What You Need to Know:
* Matt Rose's two-run single in the eighth tied the game before Georgia State fell 3-2 in 11 innings.
* Garrett Ford turned in his second straight strong start, allowing just two runs in 7.2 innings.
* GSU and Georgia Southern will meet again next Wednesday in opening game of Sun Belt Championship.
ATLANTA -- Georgia State tied the game on Matt Rose's two-run single tied the game in the eighth inning before falling 3-2 in 11 innings to Georgia Southern on Senior Day at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Georgia State finished the regular season at 29-25, 15-13 overall and in fifth place in the Sun Belt. The Panthers will face Georgia Southern (30-25, 18-12 Sun Belt) again the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship, which begins Wednesday at Troy. The complete bracket with times is expected to be released late Saturday night.
The Panthers trailed throughout the game and were scoreless until the eighth inning, when Georgia State loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch. Rose came to the plate with one out and smacked an opposite-field single into right field to score David Levy and Trae Sweeting and tie the game at 2-2. But the Panthers couldn't take the lead after a failed attempt at a squeeze play.
After putting two runners on in the ninth and 10th innings but failing to score, Georgia State surrendured an unearned run to Georgia Southern in the top of the 11th.
The Panthers had one last chance in the bottom of the 11th. At to the plate with Jack Thompson at second base and two outs, Levy hit a ball that looked like it was headed into right field, but second baseman Kent Rollins leaped just enough to get a glove on the ball. After knocking it down, he was able to throw out Levy at first for the final out.
For the second straight day, Georgia State dropped a one-run game with the game ending on a play that appeared to have a chance to tie or win it.
The loss spoiled an outstanding start by junior left-hander Garrett Ford, who pitched 7.2 innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits. Ford has given up just four runs in 16 innings in his three two outings.
Bullpen arms Connor Stanley, Wayne Wages and Kevin Burgee (3-3) pitched the final 3.1 innings and surrendured just one unearned run on one hit.
Ford also picked two runners off base, and the Panthers cut down two other runners on the base paths by thwarting attempted double steals when the Eagles had runners at first and third.
Playing before a season-high crowd of 415, seven Panther seniors were honored in pregame ceremonies before their final game at the GSU Baseball Complex.
