LITTLE ROCK -- Georgia State fell 9-1 at Little Rock in the opening game of their Sun Belt Conference series at Gary Hogan Field.

The Panthers (8-18, 2-5 Sun Belt) managed eight hits and had two or more baserunners in six straight innings, but GSU left 12 men on base.

Sophomore catcher Tanner Gallman drove in the GSU run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

Rhett Harper, the senior outfielder-turned-pitcher who returned to the outfield one game ago, had two more hits tonight. He has four hits in the two games, despite hitting for the first time since 2016.

Elian Merejo also had two hits for the Panthers, but Ryan Glass had GSU's only extra base hit with a bloop double.

Little Rock starter Chandler Fidel (2-2), a left-hander, was outstanding, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Little Rock (8-18, 3-4 Sun Belt) jumped in front with four runs in the second inning. After a leadoff single, the Panthers missed a chance to turn a double play with an error, and the Trojans capitalized.

The series continues with a 3 p.m. ET first pitch Saturday.