Late Rally Not Enough For Panthers In 5-4 Loss Against Sooners

Raphael Haynes
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ATLANTA — Georgia State Panthers loss to No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers held No. 12 Oklahoma to just five hits but a late rally came up just short as the Panthers fell 5-4 on frigid day at the GSU Baseball Complex.

The Sooners (18-3) have a Division I-best 18 victories and lead the nation in hits and rank among the top 10 in ERA but the Panthers (9-8) scored two runs in the eighth inning to pull within one run and had the bases loaded with just one out but could not bring the tying run home.

Oklahoma starter Nathan Wiles (3-0) shut out the Panthers for six innings, allowing just three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts before GSU scored two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth off the Sooner bullpen.

With GSU trailing 3-0 with one out in the seventh, catcher Nick Gatewood and right fielder Darius Sewell walked and the runners moved up on a wild pitch. Payton Mann put the Panthers on the scoreboard with a pinch hit sacrifice fly. Third baseman Romero Greer delivered a run-scoring single to pull Georgia State within 3-2.

Oklahoma scored two unearned runs in the top of the eighth. With runners at second and third and one out, Devin Vainer came on and struck out Quinn Walbergh for the second out. Vainer then threw two strikes to Renae Martinez before the pinch hitter managed to drop a double into right center field to drive in both runs.

The Panthers answered again in the bottom of the eighth. Center fielder Ryan Blanton and DH Cam Sperry walked to put runners at first and second with one out for Jarrett Hood, who singled to left to score Blanton. After Luke Leonard beat out an infield single to load the bases, Sewell drew another walk to pull GSU within 5-4. But OU reliever JB Olson struck out Mann and got Greer to ground out to end the threat.

Olson then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save.

GSU starter Bryan White (0-2) allowed three runs on three hits in 4.2 innings.

Georgia State opens Sun Belt Conference play this weekend by hosting UT Arlington, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex. Live PantherVision video coverage is available on GeorgiaStateSports.com.

Raphael Haynes

Atlanta, GA

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