LITTLE ROCK -- Georgia State took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth before Little Rock scored two in the bottom of the ninth for the 3-2 walk-off victory and series sweep at Gary Hogan Field
The ending spoiled a tremendous start by GSU's Trey Horton, who allowed just one run on three hits with five strikeouts through eight innings before allowing a leadoff single in the ninth.
In his last two starts combined, the sophomore right-hander has pitched 14 innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits with 10 strikeouts.
In a 1-1 game, Terrell Frazier led off the top of the ninth with a pinch hit single to right field off Little Rock closer Donavin Buck (2-3). After a sacrifice by Dalton Davies, Dano Deas singled sharply to right and Frazier came home when the ball got away from the right fielder.
Deas stole second and moved to third when the catcher's throw sailed into center field but was stranded there, sending the Panthers (8-20, 2-7 Sun Belt) to the bottom of the ninth with a 2-1 lead.
Little Rock (10-18, 5-4 Sun Belt) cleanup hitter Riley Pittman led off the bottom of the ninth with a double as the last batter Horton faced. James Gann doubled to score Pittman with the tying run, and with one out and runners at first and third, the Trojans scored the winning run on squeeze bunt.
The game started with a tough break for the Panthers. After Griffin Cheney doubled and Brandon Bell singled to put runners at first and third with one out in the top of the first, cleanup hitter Elian Merejo chopped a ball that appeared to hit him in the batter's box and then bounce foul. Merejo and the runners thought the ball was foul, but the Little Rock pitcher picked up the ball and started a 1-6-3 double play.
Little Rock managed a two-run in the bottom of the first as Pittman doubled home Garrett Scott, who was hit by a pitch with two outs.
But Georgia State answered in the second, tying the game as Ryan Glass singled, Chase Frady doubled and then Glass came home on an error by the shortstop.
The Panthers had another promising scoring chance in the third. With runners at first and third and two outs, Frady lined to left center but the left fielder made a great diving catch to end the inning.
With top hitter Jake Corso injured, the Panthers have struggled to score runs. GSU collected 24 hits in the three games at Little Rock but left 31 on base.
The Panthers return home to host Furman Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex, followed by a home Sun Belt series next weekend vs. ULM.
