On Wednesday, Georgia State baseball’s late-innings rally came up short as the Panthers fell to the University of Georgia Bulldogs (UGA) by a final of 4-2 at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia. The loss drops the Panthers’ record to 7-5 on the season.
UGA picked up one in the bottom of the fourth. Junior designated hitter Zack Bowers led off the frame with a double before advancing to third. Sophomore infielder Mike Bell later doubled, plating Bowers and giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
That lead grew to 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth. Bowers led off the inning with a solo home run prior to Bell walking. Redshirt senior catcher Brandon Stephens later singled and advanced to second on a bad Panther throw as Bell scored, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 3-0. Junior UGA shortstop Nick King and sophomore outfielder Stephen Wrenn each singled, and the latter of which drove in Stephens for a 4-0 Georgia lead.
Georgia State’s Sam Few hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh, drawing the Panthers within 4-1.
Matt Rose walked in the top of the ninth, then two batters later, Will Johnson hit a triple, plating Rose and closing the gap to 4-2. Despite having the tying run at the plate, Georgia State fell short to UGA by a final of 4-2.
Senior UGA pitcher Jared Walsh was credited with the win. He pitched six and one-third of an inning, gave up five hits, one walk and struck out four. The Panthers’ Marc-André Habeck was given the loss. He pitched five and one-thirds of an inning, gave up six hits, three runs, one walk and struck out three.
Georgia State will return to the diamond this weekend at the Baseball Complex in Panthersville as they host Eastern Michigan for a three-game weekend series.
