ATLANTA -- Georgia State's Andrew Fessler pitched eight shutout innings but Northern Kentucky scored four runs in the ninth to down the Panthers for the second straight day, 4-3, Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Entering the ninth inning, GSU (5-5) led 2-0 as Fessler allowed just two hits while striking out five. NKU's Logan Spurlin led off with an infield single, Cody Kuzniczci walked, and then Jordan Procyshen beat out a bunt to load the bases with no outs. Kevin Burgee (0-1) relieved Fessler, and Zac Asman cleared the bases with a double to left field corner, putting the Norse ahead 3-2. NKU (3-7) added another run on consecutive bunts as Asman came home on a squeeze play.
In the bottom of the ninth, after Matt Rose drove a ball deep to the warning track in center field for the first out, Nic Wilson belted a solo home run, his first of the season, to pull the Panthers within one. After Chase Raffield struck out, Chris Triplett hit a line drive to center field, but Josh Myers made a diving catch to end the game.
"Andrew Fessler pitched very well for eight innings of shutout baseball. This is a very hard game to lose because we played well for eight innings," GSU head coach Greg Frady said. "They had a big offensive inning and give them credit."
Wilson's homer extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
For the second straight day, Georgia State struggled offensively, managing just seven hits. The Panthers scored their first run in the fifth inning when Caden Bailey led off with a single, moved to third on Rose's single and came home when Wilson grounded into a double play.
In the seventh, Wilson started a two-out rally by drawing a walk. After Raffield also walked, Chris Triplett delievered a run-scoring single to center to put the Panthers ahead 2-0.
"We're just not swinging the bat right now," Frady said. "We just not on the same page - we're missing some signs and some little things that we have to do to win."
Garrett Schrantz (1-0) earned the win for NKU with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, and Jake Shaw saved his second straight game for the Norse.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
