ATLANTA -- Elian Merejo hit his fifth home run of the season and Georgia State scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 walk-off win over North Alabama Friday at the GSU Baseball Complex.

Merejo, the senior left fielder, is tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead with five homers after his two-run blast to left field in the third inning. He went 3-for-4 on the night, including a key single in the Panthers' ninth-inning rally.

Down 5-4 entering the ninth inning, GSU (6-6) loaded the bases with one out on singles by Kalen Puckett, Merejo and Josh Smith. Freshman Will Mize drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. Another freshman, Cameron Jones, came to the plate, and the first pitch from UNA reliever Kyle Moore (0-1) bounced in the dirt for a wild pitch, allowing pinch runner Jackson Sisk to score the winning run.

Georgia State out-hit the Lions (3-10) 12-3 but trailed 5-3 after allowing three unearned runs in the sixth inning. The Panthers got one run back in the seventh inning as Griffin Cheney singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a wild pitch,

GSU freshman reliever Brandon Haston pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to keep the Panthers close and then gave way to Joseph Brandon (2-0), who pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth to earn the victory.

The series continues with a 2 p.m. game Saturday at the GSU Baseball Complex.