ATLANTA-Mercer scored five runs in the top of the 11th inning, breaking the 4-4 tie on Nick Backlund's bases-loaded double, to defeat Georgia State, 9-4 in 11 innings Tuesday at the GSU Baseball Complex, snapping the Panthers' five-game winning streak.
Georgia State fell to 14-7 after its first extra-inning game of the season, while Mercer improved to 17-5.
The Panthers fell behind 3-0 early before Caden Bailey's two-run single put Georgia State ahead, 4-3, in the sixth inning. But Mercer answered in the seventh with on an RBI-single by Backlund, and reliever Morgan Pittman (1-0) shut down the Panthers over the final five innings.
Pittman, the sophomore left-hander, scattered five hits and one walk over five innings while striking out seven. Backlund went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Michael Massi drove in two for the Bears.
Mark Hogan collected three hits for Georgia State, and Chad Prain, Chris Triplett and Chase Raffield added two hits each.
Georgia State starter Nick Squeglia went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts but did not figure in the decision. Reliever Connor Stanley (2-1) took the loss.
The two teams meet again Wednesday at Claude Smith Field in Macon for a 6 p.m. contest. Live radio coverage is available on WRAS-FM 88.5.
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