What you need to know:
* No. 23 Liberty (2-1) swept Saturday's doubleheader, 10-7 (11) and 9-1.
* Matt Rose hit his third homer and freshman Rhett Harper hit his first.
* Next home series for GSU (1-2) is Feb. 20-22 vs. UMass-Lowell
ATLANTA -- Georgia State dropped a doubleheader to No. 23 Liberty 10-7 (11) and 9-1 Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
The Panthers finished the Atlanta Challenge at 1-2, while Liberty improved to 2-1 on the season.
In Game 1, Matt Rose his his third home run of the season and freshman Rhett Harper smacked his first as Georgia State took a 6-3 lead into the ninth inning, but Liberty's Becker Sankey hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer to tie the game and force extra innings. The Flames scored four runs in the top of the 11th, including the go-ahead, two-run single by Clay Keranen.
Rose's two-run homer in the fourth put the Panthers ahead 4-2. After Liberty scored one run in the top of the fifth, Georgia State answered with Harper's solo homer and Justin Jones' run-scoring, infield single to take a 6-3 lead.
Georgia State starter Kenny Anderson allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts over five innings. Jerry Stuckey pitched two shutout innings, followed by Kevin Burgee with a scoreless eighth inning.
In the ninth, Wayne Wages surrendured a one-out double to Alex Close, then forced Andrew Yacyk to ground out for the second out. After Josh Close was hit by a pitch, Sankey tied the game with his pinch-hit blast.
In Game 2, Liberty jumped in front early, scoring five runs off starter Cole Uvila (0-1) in the second inning. Sankey hit another homer for the Flames, and Ashton Perritt and Yacyk also went deep.
Four Flames' pitchers held the Panthers to just one run on four hits. Shawn Clowers, who finished Game 1 with three innings in relief, then started the nightcap with two scoreless inning. Michael Stafford earned the victory with three scoreless frames.
Georgia State is scheduled to play at Mercer Tuesday at 5 p.m.
The Panthers' next home series is next weekend as Georgia State hosts UMass-Lowell in a four-game series, Feb. 20-22 at the GSU Baseball Complex. Call 404-413-4020 to purchase tickets.
NOTING THE PANTHERS:
* Preseason All-American Matt Rose hit three homers in the first two games of the season and is hitting .455 with six RBI after three games.
* Freshman Justin Jones is the Panthers' starting shorstop and leadoff hitter. He collected four hits and three RBI in Saturday's doubleheader.
