What You Need to Know:
• Jarrett Hood's first homer of the season gave Georgia State a 4-1 win, 10-inning walkoff win over Savannah State.
• GSU starter Devin Vainer allowed just one run in five innings, and converted outfielder Rhett Harper pitched a scoreless 10th to earn his first college win.
• Hood had three hits in the game to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
ATLANTA -- Jarrett Hood blasted a three-run homer in the 10th inning to give Georgia State a 4-1 walkoff win over Savannah State Tuesday at the GSU Baseball Complex, the Panthers' (12-9) third straight victory.
With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Jaylen Woullard tripled to the left field corner in an at-bat in which he could have fouled out but the third baseman overran the ball near the dugout.
Savannah State (6-16) intentionally walked Joey Roach to bring Hood to the plate. The junior third baseman is hitting over .400 with 12 doubles but had yet to hit a homer for the Panthers. But he deposited the first pitch from Gregory Smith (1-4) over the left field fence for the victory.
That made a winner of Rhett Harper, a converted outfielder who made just his third mound appearance. The sophomore right-hander struck out two in a scoreless top of the 10th to earn his first collegiate victory.
Harper was one of four Georgia State pitchers who were outstanding on the night.
Starter Devin Vainer allowed just two hits in five innings, with the Tigers scoring their lone run on a solo homer down the left field line by Brian Miller. Vainer struck out six and walked three.
"What a great job by Devin," Frady said. "He gave us five really good innings, and we needed that."
Alex Hegner followed with 2.1 scoreless innings. After he allowed a single and a hitter batter in the eighth, Bryce Conley came on to strike out the final two batters. Conley also worked out of a jam in the ninth after Savannah State loaded the bases with one out; the junior righty got a popup and then a strikeout to end the threat.
"It was just a crazy game, and we did just enough to win it," head coach Greg Frady said. "The game was really about the start Devin Vainer gave us, the relief work of Alex Hegner and Bryce Conley, and then Rhett Harper coming in to seal it at the end.
"That's Jarrett Hood first homer at Georgia State, and I was very happy to have him at the plate in that situation."
Hood also had two singles in the game as he extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
Georgia State's win was its fourth walk-off of the season, including two of the last three games.
"We're playing a lot of close games, but we're finding ways to grind out wins in close games," Frady said. "I'm very proud of the team."
The Panthers now travel to nationally-ranked UL Lafayette for a Sun Belt series that will be played Thursday, Friday and Saturday because of the Easter weekend.
