ATLANTA, GA --Georgia State took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning, but could not hang on and fell 13-5 to the Arkansas State Red Wolves Saturday.
The Panthers move to 12-12 overall and 1-4 in Sun Belt Conference play, while Arkansas State improves to 16-7 and 3-2 in the conference.
Arkansas State struck first with two runs in the second inning, but Georgia State responded in the third. Hunter Carlson singled before Wills Maginnis launched a 420-foot two-run home run to left field to even the game at 2-2.
The Panthers took the lead in the fifth inning. Carlson reached base again and later scored on an RBI single from John Beverley to give Georgia State a 3-2 advantage.
The Red Wolves answered in the seventh inning, capitalizing on a Georgia State error to plate two runs before adding another on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to take a 6-3 lead.
Georgia State trimmed the deficit in the bottom half of the seventh when Austin Killingsworth delivered an RBI single to make it 6-4.
Arkansas State broke the game open in the eighth inning, scoring six runs on three hits and several hit batters to extend the lead to 12-4.
Austin Sellers added a solo home run in the eighth inning, his first career home run, for the Panthers, but Georgia State was unable to mount a comeback.
Carlson led the Panthers with two hits, while Beverley finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Maginnis and Sellers each homered, and Killingsworth added an RBI. Georgia State totaled 10 hits in the contest.
Jake Hembree started and allowed two runs over 4.0 innings while striking out seven. Brian Crooms (3-2) was charged with the loss in relief.
Georgia State and Arkansas State will conclude the series Sunday afternoon at the GSU Baseball Complex.
