Bowling Green, Ky. -- Georgia State fell 10-1 at Western Kentucky Thursday night at Nick Denes Field in the opening game of their Sun Belt Conference series.
The Panthers (24-30, 10-18) likely need to win the final two games of the series to give themselves a chance to earn one of the eight spots in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament. With wins tonight by Troy (10-17 Sun Belt) and UALR (10-18), GSU is currently tied for ninth with UALR, but just one-half game behind Troy and South Alabama (10-17), who are playing each other, and one game behind ULM (11-17).
Georgia State (24-30, 10-18 Sun Belt) trailed just 2-1 when WKU put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead.
The Panthers had chances against WKU (28-25, 14-14) starter Justin Hageman but left nine runners on base, six of them in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
In the fourth inning, Nic Wilson just missed his 19th homer of the season, setting for his 20th double, high off the wall in the gap in right center to lead off the inning. With two outs, Chris Triplett beat out an infield single to the pitcher and Trae Sweeting was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but David Levy flew out to end the threat.
In the fifth, Chad Prain led off with a double and came home on Chase Raffield's one-out single, Raffield's Sun Belt-leading 58th RBI. Wilson followed with a line drive that was caught by the left fielder, and that was all the Panthers would get.
Raffield also doubled in the first inning, his 18th double of the season.
"We had some early opportunities, but we didn't get the two-out RBIs, and then the multi-run inning gave them some separation and changed the complexion of the game," GSU head coach Greg Frady said. "It's disappointing, but this is part one of three. Our job is to get our ship righted and show up tomorrow to play the best baseball we can. We are going to do everything we can to send our seniors out the right way."
Hageman, a senior right-hander, scattered seven hits and one run over 6.2 innings to improve to 6-2. He struck out six and walked none. Regan Flaherty drove in four runs for the Hilltoppers, who clinched the fifth seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.
GSU starter Kenny Anderson (5-5) surrendured seven runs in 5.2 innings to take the loss.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
