On a night when the nation’s top hitting team visited Foley Field, it was the Georgia Bulldogs who collected a season-high 20 hits en route to a 13-9 victory over Georgia State.

The Bulldogs (14-33) snapped a four-game losing streak by slugging their way past the Panthers who boast the NCAA’s top batting average at .367 along with leading the country in runs per game at 11.7. Georgia got another four-hit game from sophomore Peter Verdin, his second straight after doing it against Tennessee this past Sunday, and redshirt freshman first baseman Kevin Ruiz went 4-for-5 to pace the offense that registered five extra base hits including two triples and a home run.

The Panthers (29-19-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first but the Bulldogs answered by sending nine to the plate in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs on six hits. Sophomore Levi Hyams delivered the key blast, a three-run shot for his fourth home run. Ruiz capped the scoring with a run-scoring single to make it 4-1. Bulldog freshman Blake Dieterich struggled with his control in the second including walking in a run which ended his outing.

Senior Steve Esmonde came on and avoided a big inning by allowing just a sacrifice fly and then Justin Malone’s fly out to center resulted in a double play as the Panthers were in motion. It helped Georgia maintain a 4-3 edge. The Panthers tied the game in the third on a two-out, run-scoring single by Brandon Williams. It was his team-leading 64th RBI.

Georgia reclaimed a 5-4 edge in the third. Freshman Zach Taylor led off with a double, took third on a base hit by Ruiz and scored when Carson Schilling hit into a double play. In the fifth, Georgia State threatened with runners at the corners and one out against sophomore Chase Hawkins.

However, the Bulldog left-hander struck out Carl Moniz and got Williams to ground out to keep it 5-4. The Bulldogs extended their lead with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a three-run triple by sophomore Zach Cone. It was Cone’s team-leading seventh triple of the season and it gave Georgia a 10-4 advantage. Freshman pinch-hitter Brett DeLoach got the Bulldogs going in that inning when he led off with his first career triple.

The top of the sixth saw the Panthers close the gap to 10-7. Senior left-hander Justin Earls started the frame but did not record an out, allowing one run on three hits with a walk before giving way to sophomore Cecil Tanner. For Earls, it was his 104th career appearance, which moved him into a tie for second in school history with Alex Barylak, trailing only All-American closer Joshua Fields who made 114 from 2005-08. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Tanner got Jonathan Kolowich to bounce into a double play.

A run scored on the play and then Joey Wood followed with a run-scoring single to make it 10-7. He struck out Bradley Logan to end the rally. Tanner provided two scoreless innings of relief.

In the seventh, freshman Kyle Farmer joined the hit parade with a run-scoring double to give every Bulldog in the lineup at least one hit. The Panthers struck for a pair of runs off senior Jeff Walters in the eighth to close the gap to 11-9. Georgia added a pair of the runs in the eighth including a run-scoring single by freshman Todd Hankins for a 13-9 lead. Justin Grimm pitched the ninth to preserve the win.

“Everyone in the lineup was productive tonight and we had some situational plays work for us,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “The home run from Hyams in the first was huge for us and gave us an early lead. Also, Ruiz has really been a lift for us offensively. He is in there swinging away and has been able to take some good pitches up the middle and to right. Offensively, our guys did a great job tonight and I’m proud of them. We’ve got some guys still trying to put good years together, which is good. I’m proud of these guys for hanging in there and toughing it out this year.”

Esmonde earned the win as seven pitchers saw action Tuesday. He tossed two innings and ran his record to 2-0. Nick Squeglia fell to 2-2, allowing five runs on nine hits through the first two frames.

Georgia will be back in action Friday against fourth-ranked Florida (33-12, 17-7 SEC) in Gainesville. First pitch will be at 8:03 p.m., and the game will be televised live by ESPNU.