ATLANTA  -- Georgia State fell 4-3 to Bryant, which scored the winning run in top of the ninth in the series opener Friday at the GSU Baseball Complex.

The GSU (3-2) pitching staff allowed just four hits, but two of them were in the ninth as the Bulldogs (1-4) broke a 3-3 tie after Jake Gustin led off with a double and scored on a one-out triple by Shane Kelly.

Georgia State took an early 1-0 lead on Josh Smith's RBI-single in the first inning.

Bryant did not have a hit until the fifth inning, but the Bulldogs scored single runs in the fourth (on a bases-loaded hit batter), fifth (on a groudout) and sixth (on an error) to take a 3-1 lead. 

The Panthers tied the game with two runs in the sixth. Smith was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice, moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored on Kalen Puckett's sacrifice bunt to pull GSU within one. Then catcher Tanner Gallman dropped a two-out single into shallow right field to score Daino Deas from second with the tying run.

GSU third baseman Cheney entered the game as the NCAA leader in walks. He did not draw a free pass, but he had two hits and has reached base in 17 of 26 plate appearances on the seasons. 

Gallman also had two hits for the Panthers.

Georgia State starter Seth Clark pitched four innings and struck out seven whille allowing two runs on just one hit. Trey Horton followed with 2.2 innings in which he allowed one unearned run and one hit.

Freshman Cameron Jones (1-1) struck out five in 2.1 innings of relief but suffered the loss.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex.