What You Need to Know:
* GSU had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning before falling 4-2 at Georgia.
* Sam Few homered and Will Johnson had an RBI-triple.
* Panthers host Eastern Michigan Friday through Sunday.
Athens, Ga. -- Georgia State had the tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth inning, but Georgia right fielder Skyler Weber made a diving catch on Sam Few's line drive to end the game as the Panthers fell 4-2 Wednesday at Georgia's Foley Field.
Few hit a solo home run, his first of the season to put the Panthers (7-5) on the board in the seventh inning.
The Panthers entered the ninth inning down 4-1 when Matt Rose drew a one-out walk. With two outs, freshman Will Johnson ripped a triple inside the bag at third base and into the left field corner, scoring Rose and cutting the deficit to 4-2. Georgia (8-4) brought in closer Jared Cheek to face Few, and the junior designated hitter laced a line drive into right field, but Weber made the diving stab.
"Losing is certainly disappointing, but there were so many good things tonight and I'm proud of my team," said head coach Greg Frady, whose Panthers had defeated Georgia the last two years.
"This is a very gritty bunch. They will fight to the end, and this game was not over until the last out was made. It is very disappointing to lose, but I'm very happy to know that I'm working with a really competitive group that will fight to the end."
GSU starter Marc-Andre Habeck (2-1) limited the Bulldogs to one run on five hits through the first five innings, but Zack Bowers led off the sixth with a solo homer to extend Georgia's lead to 2-0. Habeck then surrendured a one-out walk and was relieved by Jerry Stuckey. The Bulldogs perfectly executed a hit-and-run play as Mike Bell scored from first base on a long single to right center by Brandon Stephens for a 3-0 lead. Georgia added a fourth run on an RBI-single by Stephen Wrenn.
Relievers Will White and Clayton Payne combined to record seven straight outs to keep the Panthers close. White, the freshman lefty from Walton High School, had two strikeouts in the seventh inning.
"We gave up three runs in the middle, but I'm very proud of our pitching. Marc did a good job, and Will White came in and did a great job, and so did Clayton Payne," Frady said.
Georgia State had opportunities to score in the first few innings but the Panthers hit into inning-ending double plays in the second and third innings, and Wrenn made a great catch in right center to end a the fifth inning.
Georgia starter Jared Walsh (1-0) pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Cheek earned his third save.
The Panthers return home to host Eastern Michigan in a three-game series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance by calling 404-413-4020 or on gameday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
