In game that featured nine lead changes or ties, GSU (9-6, 0-1 CAA) trailed 13-10 before freshman Josh Merrigan delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to the game at 13-13. In the top of the ninth, George Mason (7-5, 1-0 CAA) put runners at first and third with one out on pair of singles, and Brandon Gum came home with the go-ahead run on a popup in shallow left field that shortstop Chad Prain could not haul in.

Prain went 4-for-6 with one RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases for the Panthers. Freshman Matt Rose drove in three runs, and senior catcher Scott Sarratt added two hits and two RBI as the Panthers pounded out a season-high 19 hits. Sophomore third baseman Caden Bailey had three hits for the Panthers to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

For George Mason, catcher Tucker Tobin hit his league-leading fifth home run of the season and drove in five runs on three hits, and right behind him, third baseman Blaise Fernandez had four hits and four RBI.

Georgia State led 5-2 after two innings, but George Mason rallied with a run in the third and then took the lead with a five-run fourth inning to move ahead 8-5. The Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to the game at 8-8. After the Patriots took a 9-8 lead in the fifth, GSU again responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 10-9.

Tobin's two-run homer in the top of the fifth put George Mason ahead, 11-10, and the Patriots added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth before GSU scored tied the game for the final time with three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

"It was a crazy night, but the players battled their behinds off," said GSU head coach Greg Frady. "Nobody thinks 14-13 on Friday night, but that's what it was. It was one of those nights when both offenses just had it going.

"The difference in the game was the fourth inning when they scored five runs. You just can give up a big inning like that."

Trailing 13-10 in the bottom of the eighth, Bailey got on base with a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, With two outs, Prain singled to center to bring home Bailey. Chris Triplett doubled off the wall in the left to put runners at second and third, and then Merrigan's opposite-field single through the left side tied the game at 13-13.

Rose, the Panthers' talented freshman who started the game at first base, came on to pitch the ninth. After Gum led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball, Rose struck out Nick Allen. Then Tommy Vitaletti hit a ball up the middle that ricocheted off Rose's side for a single and forced Rose from the game. Duncan Satherlie hit a pop up to shallow left field. Triplett, the left fielder, Bailey, the third baseman, and the shortstop Prain converged on the ball, which bounced off Prain's glove to allow the go-ahead run to score from third.

"The fact that Chad is so aggressive and plays so hard put him in position to have that error," said Frady. "I just appreciate how hard he played."

The Panthers had one final chance in the bottom of the ninth when Mark Hogan reached on a bunt single with one out, and pinch hitter Joey Roach smacked a ball up the middle, but the second baseman was positioned perfectly to field the ball for a game-ending the double play.

"I just felt like we ran out of time," said Frady. "Joey Roach hit into a double play to end the game, but he crushed that ball. It just wasn't our night. OUr kids played with tremendous effort and heart, continually coming back. You can live with that as a coach, when you play that hard."

Both starting pitchers were roughed up by the high-powered offenses. Georgia State's Jerry Stuckey allowed seven runs on nine hits in 3-1/3 innings, while Mason's Jared Gaynor lasted 4-1/3 innings, giving up 10 runs on 12 hits but striking out seven.

Rose (0-1) was charged with his first run of the season to take the loss, while Taylor Hunt (1-0) earned the victory for Mason with 1-1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

The series continues Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

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