Macon, Ga.- Freshman starter Jerry Stuckey allowed just four hits in 4.2 innings pitched but the Georgia State baseball team could muster just five hits offensively Wednesday night in an 11-0 loss to Mercer at Claude Smith Field.
The Panthers (7-11) have dropped five straight since upsetting #9 Georgia Tech last Wednesday. Mercer, one of the nation's top-ranked offenses, improved to 13-5 with the win.
The Bears entered the night ranked eighth in the country with a .335 team batting average and added 11 hits Wednesday. Stuckey yielded only four and left the game with GSU down 3-0 in the fifth inning, but the Bears connected for three more runs to end the frame and take a 6-0 advantage.
Mercer then added two scores in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the eighth.
Brandon Williams belted his 48th career double in the contest and now stands fifth in GSU history. Mark Hogan, Scott Sarratt, Roy Seltenrijch and Joel Van Asch each added hits for the Panthers.
Panther freshman Caleb Gore made his second appearance on the mound, retiring three of the five batters he faced with two strikeouts.
The shutout was just the third in the last three seasons for the Panthers.
GSU begins Colonial Athletic Association play this weekend by hosting Northeastern (8-4) at the GSU Baseball Complex, Friday through Sunday. First pitch in Friday's opener is slated for 6 p.m.
