ATLANTA, GA -- Brennan Hudson and Ryan Dyal homered for Georgia State, but Appalachian State rallied with five runs in the seventh inning to win 6-5 and clinch the Sun Belt Conference series at the GSU Baseball Complex.

The Panthers (21-22, 10-10 Sun Belt) scored first on an RBI-single from senior Dylan Strickland, scoring junior JoJo Jackson, who singled with two outs and stole second.

After App State (25-14-1, 10-9-1) tied the game with a run in the fourth, Brennan Hudson immediately regained the lead as the sophomore led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer, his ninth of the season.

The Panthers got another leadoff homer in the fifth, this one from Ryan Dyal, who 10th of the season gave him a share of the team lead. Maximus Martin walked, stole second and then scored on a failed pickoff attempt at second base. Jesse Donohoe's sacrifice fly scored Michael Maginnis to give the Panthers a 5-1 lead after five.

But App State scored five runs in the seventh to move ahead 6-5, and relievers Gray LaSpaluto and Zach Lewis finished the game with four scoreless innings. 

GSU starting pitcher Rob Evans allowed one run on five hits with four strikeouts in 3.2 innings but had to leave the game due to injury in the fourth. Senior Patrick Dunn was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out one.

The series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex.