ATLANTA, Ga. - South Alabama fell to Georgia State in Sunday's conference opening series finale after a five-run, ninth inning rally ended one run short.

South started hot with back-to-back hits. An infield error scored Brennan Holt, and Robert Miranda sent two home on a two-RBI single. Holt knocked his second home run of the year in the second inning, a solo shot. 

Georgia State worked two runs in the bottom of the second for a 4-2 game. The third inning was the lone inning of no scoring for either team, as Miranda led off the fourth with a home run, his first of the season. 

The Jags' silent fifth gave way to a six-run inning for the Panthers. Chase Davis was relieved after giving up five hits and five runs in 4.1 innings pitched. GSU added another two runs for a 10-5 lead heading into the seventh inning.

Holt struck his second homer of the day in the top of the inning, with a sac fly neutralizing it in the bottom of the inning. The Jags tallied three more in the eighth, beginning with two leadoff walks and a fielder's choice. A Mike Young RBI single, followed by a Holt bases-clearing double made the scoring. Georgia State responded with a grand slam to set the score at 16-9.

A string of poor pitching loaded the bases for South, with four pitchers being sent in for Georgia State among seven straight walks, which scored four runs. A wild pitch sent another Jag home to make it a one-run ballgame. A strikeout and fly out ended the game with the one run margin intact as Georgia State completed the sweep over South Alabama to close out the conference-opening weekend.

Win: Cole Roberts (3-1)
Save: Tysen Benford (3)
Loss: Brian Garmon (1-2)

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi

On the game today and the team's performance: Did not play well enough on the road. Need to play much better. Need to have better at bats early in the game. We need to pitch better. We need to play better. Bottom line, we didn't play well enough in all three areas, and we got swept. Not surprised. They're a very good club. Our team didn't take them lightly. No one should take them lightly. They're a very good team. We knew they were good. They can really swing it. We didn't do what we needed to do to win a baseball game here, and we got swept.

UP NEXT
South Alabama is set to travel to Tuscaloosa and face No. 17 Alabama Tuesday, March 18 at 6 p.m.

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