ATLANTA -- Chad Prain drove in the tying run in the bottom of the ninth and David Levy's walk-off single in the 10th won it for Georgia State, 7-6 over Arkansas State Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex as the Panthers clinched the Sun Belt Conference series.
Despite trailing 6-3 in the eighth, Georgia State (21-23, 7-13 Sun Belt) won its fourth straight game, including two in a row over Arkansas State (24-19), the second-place team in the conference.
After the Red Wolves scored three run in the top of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie, the Panthers got one run back in the bottom of the frame on Nic Wilson's sacrifice fly but entered the ninth trailing 6-4.
Joey Roach and James Clements led off with walks of ASU's Morgan Croft, and Chris Triplett sacrificed to put runners at second and third with one out. Pinch runner Trae Sweeting scored on a wild pitch to pull the Panthers within 6-5. After Greg Bowder walked, Colton Kibler replaced Croft, bringing Prain to the plate with runners at first and third and one out.
Prain smacked Kibler's first pitch up the middle for a single, scoring pinch runner Wayne Wages with the tying run.
The Panthers had a chance to win in in the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs and Wilson at the plate. The 6-6 first baseman hit a ball to the hole, and Arkansas State shortstop Dustin Jones made a great throw to just get Wilson.
After reliever Kevin Burgee retired the Wolves in order in the top of the 10th, Matt Rose led off the bottom of the 10th with a single to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Moon.
Levy, who came on to play second base in the top of the 10th after Bowder had been removed for a pinch runner, hit a 1-0 curve ball from Chandler Hawkins (2-5) into the left field corner to bring home Rose with the winning run.
"It start out with Matt Rose," Levy said. "We were just playing get him on, get him over and get him in baseball. Matt started it with a single, and Zach did a great job getting the bunt down. I just told myself I wanted to end this game. He just left a pitch over the plate and I was able to hit it to left.
"Getting this one today is so big for us."
"It started out with Matt Rose," Levy said. "We were just playing get him on, get him over and get him in baseball. Matt started it with a single, and Zach did a great job getting the bunt down. I just told myself I wanted to end this game. He just left a pitch over the plate and I was able to hit it to left.
"Getting this one today is so big for us."
GSU head coach Greg Frady added, "This was such a great win for our team. We have a great chemistry and atmosphere about us right now, and we are continuing to fight hard right to the end."
The Panthers earned their third extra-inning victory and fourth walk-off win of the season, all at home.
The dramatic comeback overshadowed another strong start by Nathan Bates, who struck out 10--one shy of his career-high--in 6.2 innings but left with the game tied 3-3. The sophomore right-hander allowed just two earned runs on six hits and walked none but hit two batters.
Burgee (3-1) earned the victory with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief in which he allowed just one hit.
Arkansas State led 2-0 when Georgia State took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Roach led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch before Clements singled to put runners at first and third.
Triplett dropped a double into center field to bring home Roach with the Panthers' first run, and Bowder tied the game with a groundout that scored Clements. With the infield in, Prain hit a ball to second base, and Triplett was able to beat the throw at home to give GSU a 3-2 lead.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday, with radio coverage on WRAS-FM 88.5.
