What You Need to Know:
* Georgia State defeated Mercer 4-3 Tuesday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
* Jarrett Hood had two hits and two RBI, and Joey Roach reached base four times, including two hits.
* Bryce Conley recorded the final six outs for his first save.
ATLANTA -- Jarrett Hood drove in two runs and Bryce Conley got the final six outs for his first save as Georgia State downed Mercer 4-3 Tuesday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
With Georgia State (7-5) holding a one run lead, Mercer (9-4) loaded the bases withone out in the ninth inning, but Conley got a game-ending double play as second baseman Andy Burnett caught Danny Edgeworth's soft line drive and threw to first base for the third out.
"It was a crazy game, and I'm proud of our team for hanging in there. We really fought for that win," head coach Greg Frady said.
Hood, the junior third baseman, put Georgia State in front for good with a two-run double in the first inning, scoring Jaylen Woullard, who led off the game with a single, and Joey Roach, who was intentionally walked.
After Mercer scored one in the third on Kyle Lewis' RBI double, the Panthers extended their lead in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Gonzalez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home one, and then Jack Thompson's sacrifice fly made it 4-1.
Mercer inched closer with two runs in the fifth. After the Bears loaded the bases with one out, reliever Alex Hegner came on and induced a ground ball to first baseman Jack Thompson, who tried to start an inning-ending double play but his throw to second was in the dirt, allowing the Bears second run to score. A sacrifice fly by Trey Truitt made the score 4-3. Then GSU shortstop Justin Jones prevented a game-tying hit with his leaping grab of Edgeworth's line drive.
Hood led the GSU offense with two hits and two RBI. Catcher Joey Roach was on base all four times with a single, a double, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, and left fielder Jaylen Woullard also had two hits.
Mercer leads the nation in home runs, but GSU held the Bears' potent offense to just four hits, two of them by the All-American Lewis. Panther pitchers did issue 12 walks but worked out of jams, with help from two double plays, as Mercer left 15 on base.
"Both teams had runners on base every inning, but nobody could score," Frady said.
GSU's two double plays in the game give the Panthers eight twin killings in the last four games.
Georgia State starter Bryan White pitched three innings, and Garrett Ford (1-2) earned the win in relief. Mercer starter Conrad Cornell (1-1) took the loss. The teams combined to use 12 different pitchers in the game.
Georgia State continues its homestand this weekend, hosting Lafayette for a three-game series scheduled to begin Friday at 6 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex.
