Wilmington, N.C.- Senior Rob Lind had four hits but Georgia State's late-inning rally fell just short as the Panthers (33-16, 13-11 CAA) fell at UNC Wilmington (27-21, 15-9) on Sunday, 6-4, suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Seahawks.
The Panthers trailed, 6-1, after seven innings but plated three runs in the eighth, including Theo Asher's RBI triple that made it 6-4. GSU then put runners on first and third in the ninth inning with two outs, but Tom Timoney induced a flyout from Brandon Williams to end the game.
The loss was the first in more than a year for junior pitcher Justin Malone, who fell to 6-1 on the season.
Seniors Mark Micowski and Brett Maxwell each homered in the defeat for GSU.
The Seahawks took a 1-0 lead in the first inning off Malone, then added two more in the third inning on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.
Georgia State trimmed the deficit to two runs in the fifth when Micowski slammed his fourth home run of the season over the wall in left, a solo shot off UNCW starter Tyler McSwain (4-4).
Senior left-hander Aidan Francis came in to relieve Malone in the sixth, stranding a leadoff single by recording three straight outs.
Francis then surrendered an RBI double in the seventh that just stayed inside the third base line, giving the Seahawks a 4-1 advantage. After Jake Dyer entered in relief of Francis, UNCW plated two more runs to post a 6-1 lead.
Maxwell began the GSU charge in the eighth inning by blasting a leadoff home run to left field, his second of the series and fifth of the season, making it 6-2. Lind followed with a double to chase McSwain from the game. Williams then put runners on the corners with nobody out after a single into center field. Aaron Schmitz then pinch hit for GSU, hitting into a double play but scoring Lind from third base to make it a 6-3 game. After Drew Shields drew a two-out walk, Asher tripled into right center to plate Shields and pull the Panthers within two at 6-4.
After Dyer held the Seahawks scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, the Panthers looked to pull even in the ninth, started by Bryan Condotta's leadoff single. After Micowski flew out, Maxwell reached on a fielder's choice that retired Condotta for the second out. Lind stepped up and drilled a single to right field, his fourth hit of the day, to move Maxwell at third and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Williams however flew out to right field, ending the game and closing out the series.
The Panthers belted out 13 hits in the defeat, just the second time this season they have lost while out-hitting their opponent.
Malone allowed just five hits in his five innings on the mound, surrendering three runs while walking two batters and hitting another. He had not lost a decision since April 2, 2010, a string of 25 straight appearances, including 11 starts.
Georgia State has seven games remaining on the season, including Colonial Athletic Association series against William & Mary and George Mason. The Panthers travel to Williamsburg, Va., this Thursday through Saturday for a three-game series with the Tribe at Plumeri Park.
