ATHENS, Ga. (Interstat) — Tre Phelps launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Georgia to an 11-8 win over LSU on Friday evening at Athens Olympic Indoor Hall.

The Bulldogs, now 39-11 overall and winners of five straight, trailed 7-4 entering the bottom of the fifth before erupting for three runs to tie the game. Kolby Branch smashed a two-run homer and Black followed with a solo shot to make it 7-7. Georgia took its first lead in the bottom of the sixth when Daniel Jackson doubled and scored on a Lujo single, making it 8-7.

LSU answered in the top of the seventh. Milam walked, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Ruckert to tie the game at 8-8. But the tie lasted only half an inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Hudson walked, Branch singled, and after a groundout advanced both runners, Phelps delivered the decisive blow, sending a pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run homer that put Georgia ahead 11-8.

Phelps finished 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. Jackson went 2 for 2 with a solo homer and an RBI. Zach Brown pitched 2⅔ innings in relief, allowing two hits and no earned runs with three strikeouts to earn the win. Justin Byrd closed with three innings of one-hit relief, allowing one unearned run and striking out two.

For LSU, which dropped to 29-22, Cade Arrambide homered and drove in two runs. John Pearson added a solo homer. William Schmidt started and allowed four runs on no hits over four innings, walking five and striking out six, but was hurt by three walks and a hit batter that led to runs. Deven Sheerin took the loss after allowing four runs over 2⅓ innings with three strikeouts.

LSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Braun singled, advanced on a groundout, Curiel walked and Arrambide walked to load the bases before Milam delivered a two-run single. Georgia answered in the bottom half on a solo homer by Jackson and a bases-loaded walk to Hudson that made it 2-2.

The Tigers broke the game open in the third inning, scoring four runs on three homers. Serna led off with a solo shot, Curiel singled, and Arrambide followed with a two-run homer to left-center. Pearson then homered to left to make it 6-2. LSU added another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Curiel to push the lead to 7-2.

Georgia chipped away in the third when Ishikawa singled, advanced to second on an error, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout. In the fourth, Phelps singled, Jackson walked, and OShaughnessy singled to center to make it 7-4.

The Bulldogs then tied it in the fifth and took the lead in the sixth before Phelps’ go-ahead homer in the seventh. Georgia’s bullpen held LSU scoreless over the final three innings, allowing just one walk and striking out four. LSU managed only nine hits to Georgia’s 11.

LSU and Georgia play again Saturday and Sunday to conclude the three-game Southeastern Conference series. LSU returns home next week to host Florida, while Georgia travels to Auburn.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Georgia 7, LSU 6. The ELO system gave Georgia a 51.60 percent probability to win. Georgia entered as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 2.5.