ATLANTA -- Georgia State fell to Mercer 9-5 Tuesday at the GSU Baseball Complex as the two in-state rivals opened their annual home-and-home series.

Both teams were hitless and scoreless through the first five innings. Georgia State starter Tyler Koch tied his career high with seven strikeouts in four hitless, scoreless frames before giving way to the bullpen. Freshman Brandon Haston (1-1) pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning before Mercer (13-3) got on the scoreboard with five runs in the sixth off three different GSU relievers.

The Panthers (8-7) scored five runs over the final three innings. Junior second baseman Kalen Puckett and freshman shortstop Will Mize each had two hits and an RBI, freshman center fielder Kyle Riesselmann had two hits, and Terrell Frazier, Josh Smith and Daino Deas also drove in runs.

Georgia State plays a second midweek game as the Panthers host UNC Asheville Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex in their final tune-up before Sun Belt Conference play begins this weekend. GSU hosts South Alabama in its first conference series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.