ATLANTA - The Georgia State men's tennis team (4-2) roared back to take five of six singles matches to defeat Georgia Southern (1-1), 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Piedmont Park. Junior Juan Pablo Gutierrez won in straight sets at No. 4 singles, to clinch the match.

"We have taken down two in-state rivals this week (Mercer and Ga. Southern) and it feels good," commented head coach Chase Hodges. "This gives us our fourth straight win and the guys have plenty of confidence right now. Samford will present another tough challenge tomorrow, but I know that our team will be ready to play."

The Panthers fell behind early in the match after losing the doubles point. State was able to come away with a tough win at No. 3 doubles, when Lucas Santana and Juan Pablo Gutierrez won 8-7 (7-2).

Georgia Southern took a 2-0 lead, after winning at No. 1 singles in straight sets.

Sophomore Lucas Santana earned the first point for the Panthers at No. 5 singles, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. Santana has won five straight matches and holds a 5-1 overall record in singles.

Sophomore Victor Valente tied the match at 2-2 after winning at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-1. Valente improved to 4-2 in singles this season.

Freshman Vincent Verpeaux gave Georgia State its first lead at 3-2, with a straight sets victory at No. 6 singles. Verpeaux has won four straight matches to improve to 5-1 in singles.

Gutierrez clinched the match at No. 4 singles for the second straight match. Gutierrez also holds a five-match winning streak entering play on Sunday.

In the final match of the day, freshman Thomas Cook won in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8). Cook won the super tiebreaker, 10-8, and remains undefeated on the season with a 4-0 record.

Georgia State returns to action on Sunday against Samford at 1 p.m. in Marietta, at the Chattahoochee Tennis Center.