App State fell 10-4 to Georgia State on Saturday as the Panthers evened the weekend series to set up a rubber match for Sunday’s finale at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

The Mountaineers (12-9, 3-2 Sun Belt) scored in the first, second, eighth and ninth innings, but Georgia State’s bats were too hot in the middle innings for App State’s late comeback attempt.

On a gorgeous Boone afternoon in front of a standing-room-only crowd, Luke Drumheller led the Mountaineers’ offense with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, a run scored and a run driven in. App State also got RBI hits from Hayden Cross, Alex Aguila and Andrew Terrell.

Georgia State (13-10, 4-1 Sun Belt) scored in every inning but the first and ninth and benefited from a pair of Jesse Donohoe home runs and a Max Ryerson round-tripper. Starting pitcher Ryan Watson threw 126 pitches over 8.2 innings to earn the win.

App State starter Bradley Wilson struck out six in 3.1 innings, while the final three relievers (Dante Chirico, Zach Lewis and Ryan Sleeper) allowed just two runs over the final 3.2 frames.

Sunday’s first pitch is at 1 p.m.