Behind the arm of a freshman pitcher, the Diamond Dogs looked like they were headed for a close, one-run victory through most of Wednesday’s game.

But as is so often the case, one big inning changed everything.

Georgia garnered a 4-1 victory over Georgia State Wednesday night, thanks to the strong pitching of starter Pete Nagel and the bullpen, and a three-run seventh inning that put them over the top.

But Diamond Dogs head coach David Perno acknowledged Georgia State’s play when explaining the team’s slow start.

The Diamond Dogs remain unbeaten in the season following a strong home victory over Georgia State 4-1. ALLISON LOVE/Staff

“You gotta give credit to them. We had a lot of resistance,” Perno said. “You gotta be able to win those games at home, and we hung in there.”

Second baseman Levi Hyams was responsible for a two-out, two run homer in the seventh that gave Georgia fans a chance to relax and the team a path to victory. He credited his focus during the at-bat to his veteran status, drawing a contrast with batting in a clutch situation earlier in his career.

“[In] the bigger situations where you’d need to get a hit… I’d feel the nerves and the butterflies flying around,” Hyams said. “Now it’s just like, breathe, relax, and I can talk myself through it.”

The game might have been less tight had the No. 9 Diamond Dogs (4-0) been more successful in the fourth inning. After loading the bases with one out, the Diamond Dogs only scored one run, and that came off a walk.

According to Perno, the team missed a big moment that inning.

“[You] just don’t get a whole lot of opportunities like that,” he said. “When we get them hopefully we’ll do a better job of taking care of business.”

Perno and his team praised Nagel’s performance, going five innings with one hit, one walk and no runs. But he downplayed his role in the win.

“I was trying to spot a fastball offspeed and just let my defense work,” Nagel said. “And they made good plays all day.”

Nagel’s performance didn’t surprise Perno, he said.

But for a freshman’s first start, it was different than he expected.

“I thought we would potentially be in more counts, bad counts and tough situations,” Perno said. “But he controlled the count the whole way through.”

Overall, Nagel is part of a pitching staff that allowed only one run to the Panthers (3-2) Wednesday, and only six runs in the first four games.

And the Diamond Dogs couldn’t be happier.

“These guys are doing so well for us. We’re really proud of them,” Hyams said. “They keep doing their job [and] it makes our jobs as hitters easy.”

Even when the Diamond Dogs get in more dramatic and difficult situations, the team has stayed competitive in every game.

Perno praised the pitching staff for doing what it needs to do to keep them there.

“We’re throwing strikes. That’s the biggest thing you want to see from the guys,” he said.

But the team isn’t exactly thrilled with the necessity of late-inning excitement.

“Next time we’re gonna try to jump out early,” Hyams said. “These late ones are giving me panic attacks, I’ll tell you that.”