Statesboro, Ga. -- Georgia State dropped its series opener at Georgia Southern 10-6 Friday at J.I. Clements Field.
Brennan Hudson homered and went 3-for-3 for the Panthers (15-14, 7-3 Sun Belt), who are in second place in the Sun Belt Conference standings.
After falling behind 7-1 after four innings, Georgia State scored one run in the sixth on an RBI-single by
Michael Maginnis. Then the Panthers scored three in seventh to pull within 7-5.
Jae Williams singled home one run, and then
Will Mize delivered a 2-out, 2-run single to bring the Panthers within two runs.
But Georgia Southern managed three runs in the bottom of the seventh to move ahead 10-6.
GSU reliever
Hunter Varnadoe helped the Panthers get back in the game by pitching 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and
Patrick Dunn struck out the side in the eighth.
The series continues Saturday with a 2 p.m. game on ESPN+.