ATLANTA - Trailing by one run entering the bottom of the ninth, the Georgia State baseball team attempted to mount a late rally, but a pair of Mercer pitchers recorded the final three outs to give the Bears a 7-6 win at the Field at Panthersville on Wednesday night.
Junior Rob Lind led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.
With the loss, Georgia State fell to 21-17 on the year, while Mercer improved to 23-19. All three games of the season-long series were won by the road team with the Bears taking two-of-three.
The Panther bullpen scattered five hits in 6.1 innings of work, allowing just one earned run and striking out five. The two teams combined to use 13 pitchers as each team was preparing for key weekend conference series.
Mercer struck first in the top of the second when Evan Boyd singled up the middle, scoring Joe Winker to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.
Junior Rob Lind followed in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run over the center field wall to give State its lone lead of the game, 2-1. It was Lind's eighth home run of the season and 70th for the Panthers, just seven shy of the school's all-time record set in 2000.
After loading the bases in the top of the third, Panther starter Ben Marshall was relieved by junior Will Campbell. Travis Benn, the first batter Campbell faced, belted a grand slam to give the Bears a three-run lead as Mercer never looked back.
Marshall (0-1) lasted 2.2 innings and earned the loss, allowing three hits and four runs, all of which were earned. He struck out two, but suffered with his control and walked five.
The Bears added two more in the top of the fourth to take a 7-2 lead, chasing Campbell after just two-thirds of an inning.
Mercer starter Chris Newell went 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and four runs, striking out three, but did not factor into the decision. Newell gave way to David Teasley (4-1) who earned the win after just two-thirds of an inning of relief.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Brandon Williams singled to center and scored a batter later when Lind doubled to left center, cutting the deficit to four.
Junior Shane Hammond followed with another double, scored Lind to pull the Panthers to within three. It was Hammond's second hit of the game, raising his batting average to .386 on the season.
Following a scoreless inning of relief by junior Charley Olson, the Panthers responded with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Williams belted his team-high tying 14th double down the left field line, scoring junior Ryan Fleming and senior Carl Moniz, cutting Mercer's lead to the final score, 7-6.
Williams finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and two driven in.
Junior Jeremy Gazerro pitched 2.0 innings of perfect relief. Over his last three appearances, Gazerro has gone 9.1 innings and allowed just two hits.
Evan Boyd led the Bears at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and one driven in.
J.T. Odom recorded the final two outs for Mercer to record his second save of the year.
Georgia State returns to CAA action this weekend, travelling to Richmond to face first-place VCU. First pitch on Friday night is set for 7 p.m. The Panthers will return home next Wednesday to face Alabama State in the final non-conference home game of the year.
Tickets for next Wednesday's game, as well as the remaining home games, can be purchased by calling 1-866-GA-STATE. Fans can also log on to the web at GeorgiaStateSports.com or visit any Ticketmaster location.
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