What You Need to Know:
* First-place GSU won its fourth straight to improve to 12-3 in the Sun Belt.
* Freshman Justin Jones drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th.
* Closer Kevin Burgee pitched a career-long four innings to earn the win, and Jerry Stuckey got the final out for his second save.
Boone, N.C. -- Freshman Justin Jones drove in the go-ahead run with a 12th-inning single as Sun Belt Conference leader Georgia State won at 4-3 in 12 innings at Appalachian State Friday night, the Panthers' fourth straight victory.
GSU (23-15 overall) improved to 12-3 in the Sun Belt, including 6-0 in conference road games. The Panthers won their sixth extra-inning game of the season, including their fifth Sun Belt game.
With the game tied at 2-2, David Levy led off the top of the 12th with a single, his third hit of the day. Ryan Blanton followed with single to put runners at first and second, and then Jones, the rookie shortstop, smashed a ball to the wall in left center to bring home Levy.
"It felt really good, but I have to give all the credit to the guys in front of me, David and Ryan for getting on," said Jones, who also made several outstanding plays in the field.
With Jones at first and Blanton at second, the Panthers executed a double steal, and then Blanton came home with a key insurance run on a passed ball.
"Justin Jones' at-bat in extra innings was huge," head coach Greg Frady said. "He finally got a good pitch to hit and got the bat head out. It was extremely difficult to hit the ball over the outfielders' head tonight because the air was heavy, but he really squared it up, maybe one of the best balls he's hit all year.
"Another play that can't be lost is the double steal so we could get the fourth run on the passed ball, which turned out to be the winner," Frady continued. "All in all, a really hard-fought win on the road in conference baseball. A crazy night, but we're happy to win game one."
The Mountaineers managed a run in the bottom of the 12th and had two runners on before Jerry Stuckey came on to strike out Matt Brill for the final out.
Closer Kevin Burgee (3-1) pitched a career-long outing, allowing one run on four hits over four innings to earn the win, and Stuckey recorded his second save.
Both starting pitchers were outstanding but did not figure in the decision. Georgia State's Nathan Bates pitched 7.2 shutout innings with six strikeouts before the Mountaineers (11-27, 4-15) scored twice in the eighth.
Appalachian State starter Taylor Thurber struck out 10 over nine innings and allowed just two unearned runs on six hits.
"Nathan Bates was outstanding tonight," Frady said. "David Levy had a good game offensively, and Jerry Stuckey came in and got a very difficult out.
"I want to compliment their pitcher. He pitched a fantastic game. It was just a grind-it-out game, and I was glad to get that final out."
The game was scoreless until Georgia State scored two unearned runs in the top of the eighth as Blanton and Jones came home with two outs on a throwing error by the shortstop.
But Appalachian State (11-27, 4-15) tied the game with a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth, stringing together two doubles and a single.
The series continues with a 2 p.m. game Saturday.
