Baseball 5/10/2014 10:37:00 PM None

GSU Falls 10-6 as ULM Evens Series; Wilson Hits 17th HR

Monroe, La. -- Georgia State fell 10-6 at UL Monroe Saturday night at Warhawk Field as ULM evened the Sun Belt Conference series at one game each. Nic Wilson hit his 17th home run of the season to the game at 6-6 in the eighth inning, but ULM scored four in the bottom of the eighth and held on for the win.

Georgia State (24-27, 10-16) and ULM (21-31, 10-16) are tied for seventh place in the league standings and fighting to earn one of the eight spots in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

The Panthers took a 5-2 lead on Matt Rose's two-run homer in the sixth inning, his 10th of the season. In a one-run game, Joey Roach drew a leadoff walk, and then Rose smacked the 1-0 pitch from ULM starter Alex Hermeling over the left field fence.

Rose was 2-for-4 on the night with three RBI, including an infield single in the third that put GSU ahead 3-0.

"After Matt Rose hit the two-run homer and we took a 5-2 lead, I really thought the game would come down to our pitching and defense, and our nemesis, the multi-run inning, bit us two times in the back half of the game," GSU head coach Greg Frady said. "When you do that, it's really hard to win."

ULM answered Rose's homer with four runs in the bottom of the sixth on five consecutive singles, the big blow a two-run single to center field off reliever Andrew Fessler that put the Warhawks ahead 6-5.

That was the score when Wilson led off the top of the eighth and smashed his home run to right field. The 6-6 senior first baseman is third in the nation in homers.

In the bottom of the frame, the Warhawks put runners at first at and third with one out, and Keelin Rasch delivered a two-run double to put ULM ahead, 8-6. Justin Stawychny added a two-run triple off reliever Jerry Stuckey (3-5) for a 10-6 advantage.

GSU starter Nathan Bates allowed just two hits and two runs through five innings before giving up two hits in the sixth and giving way to the bullpen. He did not figure in the decision.

Left-hander Alex Dumaine (2-4) earned the win in relief for ULM.

Live video for Sunday's series finale is available on PantherVision.

"We need to come out here tomorrow and find a way to win the game," Frady said.

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