ATLANTA-Dan Russell held Georgia State (7-1) to one run over six innings Sunday as the Panthers fell for the first time this season, 8-2, in the series finale with Western Illinois (1-6) at the Field at Panthersville.
The Leathernecks took advantage of four Panther errors, including three in the ninth inning, to end GSU's second-best start in school history.
"One of the most difficult things in the sport is to beat a team four times in a weekend," said head coach Greg Frady. "They have a good team and we just got outplayed today."
Austin Cowen's two-RBI single in the fifth inning proved to be the difference after the Leathernecks loaded the bases on Panther starter Charley Olson (1-1). The two-out hit extended the lead for Russell (1-0) and Western Illinois to 4-0 after the Leathernecks had put one run apiece on the board in the second and third innings.
The Panthers trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the inning to 4-1 on doubles by Brett Maxwell and Rob Lind, and true freshman Sam Agnew-Wieland kept the Panthers close with 3-1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
"I was really happy with Sam today," Frady said. "He came in and pitched really well in the middle of the game when we needed a stop to give our team a chance to get back in it."
The Panthers added another run in the seventh when Mark Micowski singled home Bryan Condotta, who had singled and advanced on an error, making it 4-2.
Gabe Long and Zach Sterling wouldn't let the Panthers get any closer, however, yielding just two hits over the final three innings.
The Leathernecks poured in four insurance runs in the ninth inning to make it 8-2, aided by three Panther errors, two hit batsmen and a wild pitch.
Sterling allowed two baserunners in the ninth with two away before inducing a fly out from Rob Lind to give WIU its first victory of the season.
"Every day is a new day," said Frady. "There's nothing to be ashamed about winning seven out of eight to start the season. The mark of a good team is how you respond after you've lost a game. The next stretch of games will be very difficult. We'll be tested for sure, it will be a great challenge, but we'll be ready for it."
Georgia State plays cross-town rival Georgia Tech (5-3) Wednesday at Russ Chandler Stadium, with first pitch slated for 4 p.m. The Panthers then travel to Starkville, Miss., on Thursday for two games each with Mississippi State (6-1) and Iowa (0-3) over the weekend.
