What You Need to Know:
• Georgia State fell 6-2 at Texas State in the series opener.
• Justin Jones had three hits and drove in both GSU runs, but two Texas State pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts.
• Game 2 is Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
San Marcos, Texas -- Georgia State fell 6-2 at Texas State in the series opener Friday night at Bobcat Ballpark. Justin Jones had three hits and drove in both GSU runs, two Texas State pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts.
Jones, hitting in the two spot in the order, and leadoff hitter Ryan Blanton combined for five of the Panthers' (22-24, 8-14 Sun Belt) eight hits.
Jones, the sophomore shortstop, has six hits and four RBIs in the last two games and is hitting .382 over the last 24 games.
Georgia State opened the scoring in the first inning as Blanton led off with a single off the pitcher and moved to second when the pitcher threw wildly to first. Justin Jones followed with a single to right center to bring home Blanton and give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
But the Bobcats turned double plays in both the first and the second innings, allowing Texas State (25-22, 12-10 Sun Belt) starter Lucas Humpal to settle in.
The senior right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
GSU starter Wayne Wages (4-5) retired the first 10 in order before Texas State got on the board in the third inning on Cory Geisler's two-run double, giving the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.
The scored remained that way until Texas State scored three in the sixth to put the Bobcats up 5-1 and chase Wages. Rhett Harper came on with runners at first and second and not outs, and the first batter he faced, Derek Scheible hit a ball to left center. Will Johnson made a diving catch and then threw to second to double off the runner, and then Harper got the third out to limit the damage.
With GSU trailing 6-1, Johnson reached on an error to lead off the eighth. Then Blanton singled through the right side and Jones dropped his third hit of the day into center field for a run-scoring single.
But reliever Pasquale Mazzoccoli came on and struck out the side. He retired six straight to earn his 11th save of the season.
Neither team walked a batter in the game, although GSU catcher Joey Roach was hit by a pitch for the 10th time this season and the 28th time in his career.
The series continues with a 4 p.m. ET game Saturday.
