DECATUR, Ga. (Interstat) — Matt Gallant and Aydan Smith combined for seven hitless innings of relief, and the Charleston Southern offense erupted for nine runs in the middle innings to power the Buccaneers to a 9-1 victory over Georgia State in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Georgia State Baseball Complex.

The win improved Charleston Southern to 12-3 this season, while Georgia State fell to 10-7.

The most important part of the game was the dominant performance of the Buccaneers’ bullpen, which completely stifled any chance of a Panthers rally after a high-scoring series opener. After Charleston Southern’s 15-7 win on Friday, Gallant entered in relief in the second inning Saturday and was nearly untouchable. He pitched five innings, allowing no hits and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out three. Smith followed with two perfect innings to close out the game, striking out one.

Their work was crucial after Georgia State scratched out its lone run in the fifth inning. Lucas Grantham doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Austin Sellers. That cut the Buccaneers’ lead to 9-1, but Gallant and Smith allowed just two more baserunners, both on walks, over the final three frames.

Charleston Southern’s offense, held in check early, broke through in a decisive fourth inning. The Buccaneers sent 11 men to the plate, scoring six runs on just two hits but capitalizing on three walks, two hit batters and three wild pitches. The big blow was a two-run single by Ethan Reader that drove in Mason Reising and Garrison Barile. Blake Edgmon followed with an RBI single, and two more runs scored on wild pitches.

The Buccaneers added three more in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Caden Wolfley drew a walk to force in a run, and Tyler Wright delivered a two-run single to left field.

Reader finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Wright was 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Edgmon went 1 for 2 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks.

For Georgia State, Sellers was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Grantham went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

Georgia State starter Jake Hembree took the loss, charged with eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Reliever Cooper Lewis allowed three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Will Bartkoski and Hunter Atkins provided scoreless relief for the Panthers.

The victory defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had projected an 8-6 Charleston Southern win, while its ELO system gave Georgia State a 59.2% probability of victory.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday. Charleston Southern travels to UNC Wilmington on Tuesday, while Georgia State hosts Mercer the same day.