What You Need to Know:
* Matt Rose drove in two and earned his second save in 5-4 win over Eastern Michigan.
* GSU clinched the series and has won five of its last six games.
* Series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m.
ATLANTA -- Matt Rose drove in two runs and earned his second save of the season to lead Georgia State to a 5-4, series-clinching win over Eastern Michigan Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex. The Panthers (9-5) have won five of their last six games.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
Rose, the Preseason All-American, broke a 3-3 tie with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to score Ryan Blanton, who led off with a single and had two hits on the day.
Eastern Michigan (5-10) threatened in the top of the eighth, putting runners at first and third with no outs. But right-hander Alex Hegner came on in relief and induced an easy ground ball to third baseman Caden Bailey, who looked the runner back at third and then started the 5-4-3 double play. Hegner then ended the inning by getting Michael Mioduszewski to fly out.
The Panthers added a key insurance run in the bottom of the eighth by executing a double steal for the second straight day. With runners at first and third and two outs, Ryan Blanton broke from first and stayed in a run down long enough to allow David Levy to slide home ahead of the tag for the Panthers' fifth run.
"The game probably turned when Alex Hegner came in when they had first and third with nobody out and he induced a double play and then got the third out to put up a zero. Then we were able to come right behind him and put up another run to give us that cushion," head coach Greg Frady said.
Rose came on for the ninth, and Dennison led off with a single. Rose then snagged a ball hit back at him and got the lead runner at second base, but the Panthers were unable to complete the double play. With two outs, Rose hit Lett to put runners at first and second, and then Rubino reached on an error to load the bases with two outs.
Wilson hit a ball to the hole at short that Justin Jones managed to knock down, holding the Eagles to one run. Then Rose struck out Peterson looking with the bases loaded to end the game and seal the victory.
Frady said. "This game came right down to the end. Matt Rose showed toughness, and when you've got a veteran on the mound, you always feel confident. The play Justin Jones made in the six-hole probably saved the game for us. But all in all, that's what it takes to be a winner."
Georgia State took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning. Rose delivered a two-out double down the left field line to bring home Blanton, and then Joey Roach followed with a run-scoring single to center.
But Eastern Michigan tied the game with two unearned runs in the sixth off GSU starter Kenny Anderson, who allowed three runs but just one earned on four hits in 5.2 innings.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we worked really hard for this win," Frady said.
