NEW ORLEANS—Georgia State had its eight-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 loss at New Orleans Sunday at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
The Panthers (24-14) played four straight one-run games against UNO (6-31), winning the first three, but managed just five hits today against UNO starter Alex Smith, who threw a complete game. Smith (2-6) allowed two runs, just one earned, with three walks and two strikeouts.
The eight-game winning streak equalled the second-longest streak in school history and was the Panthers' longest since their school-record 11-game string in 2011.
Georgia State led 2-1 in the fifth inning when New Orleans scored the winning run on an error. The Privateers put two on with no outs off starter Nick Squeglia (3-1). After Ben Burns relieved Squeglia, the runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt, and then Burns hit leadoff batter Chaz Boyer to load the bases with one out.
Burns then got a ground ball to shortstop Chad Prain, who flipped to Greg Bowder for the force, but Bowder's throw to first was wild, allowing two runs to score.
Georgia State got another strong performance from the bullpen as Burns and Jerry Stuckey combined to allow just one hit and one walk over the final four innings, each striking out two. Squeglia gave up three runs on four hits but walked four in four innings.
"Our pitching was great today," said GSU head coach Greg Frady. "But as good as our pitching was today, we walked a few too many and an untimely error was our demise. It's hard to score runs here, so you can't help the other team score, and if you do, you put yourself in a hole.
"It's disappointing to lose, but winning three out of four on the road is a good job," Frady continued. "I congratulate the team on the eight-game winning streak. It's disappointing to see that end, but we'll just have to start another one."
The Panthers jumped on the board first as Prain reached on an error to lead off the game, stole second base and then scored on a single by Drew Shields.
After UNO answered in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Zacary Hawkins, Georgia State moved ahead again in the fourth. Bowder smashed a one-out triple to the right field corner and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Shane Gordon.
With a single and a walk, Prain has now reached base in 35 consecutive games.
The Panthers continue their eight-game road swing with a Tuesday game at Kennesaw State. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium, and live radio coverage is available on WRAS-FM 88.5.
