SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - It may have taken 11 innings and lasted nearly four hours, but Georgia Southern ground out a 7-6 win over Texas State on Saturday to even the weekend series at one game each. Christian Avant scored the winning run on a failed pickoff attempt and hit his first collegiate home run to pace the Eagle offense.

The rubber match of the weekend series is set for Noon (CT) / 1 p.m. (ET) as the Eagles and Bobcats square off to close the series.

SCORING PLAYS
Top 3rd - A two outs walk to Christian Avant gave the Eagles a chance in the third, plating the run off a Jason Swan RBI triple. His second triple of the season was his 24th RBI of the season. The hit also broke up Texas State's early no-hit bid.
Bottom 3rd - Three Eagle errors in the third inning opened the door for three Texas State runs in the third as home team took a 3-1 lead.
Top 7th - Sophomore Mason McWhorter cut the lead to 3-2 with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. It was McWhorter's seventh home run of the season. Two hits with one out put runners aboard for Christian Avant who lashed his first collegiate home run, a three run bomb, to left to give the Eagles a 5-3 lead. The Eagles would bat around for the first time since March 31st against Coastal Carolina, sending 10 to the plate while tallying six hits.
Top 8th - A Mitchell Golden double down the left field line scored Chandler Corley with one out to push the lead to 6-3.
Bottom 8th - Texas State got three runs in the eighth inning, all with two outs, to tie the game at 6-6.
Top 11th - A one out walk to Christian Avant came around to score thanks to a stolen base, a Swan single and a throwing error by the pitcher. A failed pickoff attempt at third base by the pitcher allowed the go-ahead run to score when nobody was home on the throw over.

NOTES
- Chase Cohen picked up his fourth win of the season by working four relief innings and scattering four hits and three runs while striking out four.
- Christian Avant went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored and a pair of walks to lead the way offensively for the Eagles. He also stole two bases in the game, raising his season total to six.
- Mitchell Golden had a 2-for-5 outing, driving in a run for his fifth multi-hit game this season.
- Seth Shuman went six innings for his seventh quality start of the season. He allowed three runs, one earned off seven hits, but left in line for the win after the four run seventh inning. He, however, did not factor in to the decision after Texas State tied the game in the eighth inning.
- The 11 inning game was the longest by innings this season for the Eagles. It clocked in at 3:48, matching the season opener at Georgia for the longest game by time this season.

UP NEXT
The series finale between Georgia Southern and Texas State is on tap for high noon on Sunday. The game is the final contest for the Eagles before final exams start on Monday.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com/Tickets.

In order to expedite entry and provide a safe environment for all patrons and participants, Georgia Southern Athletics has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for all ticketed sporting events, effective Aug. 1, 2017. Fans can find the complete policy as well as an FAQ section at GSEagles.com/ClearBag.