What You Need to Know:
* GSU (3-2) split DH with UMass Lowell, 3-5 and 11-9. Series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
* Freshman Will Johnson's two-run triple broke a 2-2 tie and started an eight-run sixth inning in Game 2 victory.
* Cam Sperry and Ryan Blanton homered for GSU.
ATLANTA -- Freshman Will Johnson's two-run triple broke a 2-2 tie and started an eight-run sixth inning that sent Georgia State to an 11-9 victory over UMass Lowell in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex. The River Hawks took Game 1, 5-3, as the Panthers' ninth-inning rally came up short.
The four-game series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the sixth inning, Johnson came to the plate with two outs and two on. After ripping a ball down the third base line that was ruled foul, the rookie from North Atlanta High School delivered an opposite-field triple to the right field corner, bringing home two runs and giving the Panthers the lead for good. Johnson finished the doubleheader with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
Another freshman, Jack Thompson, then singled home Johnson. After three straight walks extended Georgia State's lead to 6-2, Matt Rose's sharp single, plus a misplay by the left fielder, cleared the bases. Joey Roach added an RBI-single, and the Panthers led 10-2 after six.
Georgia State (4-3) took an 11-3 lead into the ninth and held on for the 11-9 victory after the River Hawks (1-2) managed six runs off relievers Alex Prescott and Michael Lelko.
Ryan Blanton led off the game for Georgia State with a solo home run, his first of the season, and drove in the Panthers' second run with a sacrifice fly.
Wayne Wages (1-0) earned the victory with 1.1 innings in relief of starter Cole Uvila, who allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with five strikeouts in five-plus innings.
In game one, UMass Lowell pitchrs Kevin Veilluex and Brendan Shea kept the Panthers off balance for much of the game, but Georgia State had a chance to tie or win the game in the ninth.
With the Panthers trailing 5-1, Cam Sperry led off the bottom of the ninth with his first homer of the season. After Johnson was hit by a pitch, Blanton doubled to right center to put runners at second and third. Pinch hitter Rhett Harper was called out on strikes on a close pitch, and Justin Jones brought home a run with a groundout for the second out. Caden Bailey walked to load the bases and bring the Panthers' top player Matt Rose to the plate. Rose sent a ball deep to left field, but the ball was caught at the warning track for the final out.
