JONESBORO, Ark. – Georgia State battled back to tie the game twice, but a late two-run homer lifted Arkansas State to a 6-5 win on Saturday night at Tomlinson Stadium, clinching the weekend series for the Red Wolves.

The Panthers (24-20, 9-11 SBC) launched three home runs and collected 10 hits, but couldn't overcome a pair of big innings from Arkansas State (21-21, 10-10 SBC), who scored twice in the sixth and again in the eighth to pull away late.

Jesse Donohoe stayed hot at the plate, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. Colin Hynek also homered and doubled as part of a 2-for-4 day, while Carter Bailey added two singles and an RBI.

Georgia State struck first with Donohoe's solo homer in the second inning. After Arkansas State took a 2-1 lead in the fifth, GSU answered with a big sixth inning. Hynek tied the game with a solo shot to left center, and Donohoe immediately followed with his second home run of the game to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead. Later in the frame, Bailey's RBI single stretched the advantage to 4-2.

The Red Wolves responded quickly. A leadoff single followed by a two-run blast from Jake Henry Williams tied the game again at 4-4 in the bottom half of the sixth. In the eighth, Williams struck again with another two-run homer to put Arkansas State up 6-4.

Georgia State tried to rally in the ninth. Kaleb Freeman walked, Wills Maginnis singled, and Hynek walked to load the bases with one out. Donohoe drove in Freeman on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-5, but Arkansas State closer Chase Richter recorded the final out to seal the Red Wolves' win and pick up his seventh save of the season.

Tysen Benford (1-1) took the loss for GSU, allowing five hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings of relief. Starter Jake Hembree went 4.1 innings, allowing just one run while striking out five.

The Panthers will look to salvage the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.