DECATUR, Ga. (Interstat) — Georgia State edged Appalachian State 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Georgia State Baseball Complex, clinching the Sun Belt series after a late rally that overcame an early Mountaineers lead.

The Panthers, who evened their overall record at 26-28, used a pair of sacrifice bunts and capitalized on two Appalachian State errors to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. The Mountaineers fell to 29-22.

Appalachian State seized control in the first inning when center fielder Charlie Evans doubled to right-center and later scored on a wild pitch. The Mountaineers added two more in the fourth. First baseman Jalen Seward launched a two-run homer to left field, driving in Kameron Miller, who had singled. Seward’s blast put Appalachian State ahead 2-0.

Georgia State’s pitching staff kept the Mountaineers at bay after that, holding them to just three more hits the rest of the way. The Panthers’ bullpen, anchored by starter Joshua Evans, limited damage. Evans worked 4.1 innings in relief, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out one. He was credited as the top star for Georgia State after his performance, following a recent outing May 5 at Kennesaw State where he threw 2.1 scoreless innings.

The Panthers got on the board in the fifth. Catcher Cole Griffith homered to center, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Appalachian State starter Conner Barozzino had been sharp through four scoreless innings, and he finished with 5.0 innings, no hits, one earned run and two strikeouts.

Georgia State tied the game in the seventh. After an error by the Mountaineers’ second baseman allowed a runner to reach, Griffith executed a sacrifice bunt, scoring Austin Killingsworth to make it 2-2. The run was unearned. Reliever Everette Harris, who had entered in the sixth, retired the side without further damage. Harris tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one.

The decisive rally came in the eighth. With one out, John Beverley struck out but reached on a wild pitch, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Georgia State intentionally walked Wills Maginnis, and Hunter Carlson followed with a sacrifice bunt to the first baseman, scoring Beverley to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.

Appalachian State threatened in the seventh, putting runners on base, but Riley Luft grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. In the eighth, the Mountaineers got a leadoff single from Miller, but pinch-runner Bret Clements was caught stealing. The final three batters went down in order in the ninth against Georgia State closer Brian Crooms, who pitched a scoreless inning.

For Appalachian State, Charlie Evans finished 2-for-2 with a double and a run, while Seward drove in both runs. Georgia State’s Griffith was 1-for-2 with a homer and two RBIs, and Adam Haber added a double.

Georgia State had four hits in the game but made four sacrifice hits and grounded into three double plays, limiting their own opportunities. Appalachian State had six hits but could not add to their early advantage.

The series opened Thursday with Appalachian State routing Georgia State 12-2. The Panthers bounced back Friday with a 4-2 win. Saturday’s victory gave Georgia State the series win, two games to one.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Appalachian State 7, Georgia State 4, and the Interstat ELO system gave the Mountaineers a 55.20 percent probability to win.