ATHENS, Ga. - A late comeback bid ended too early for the CSU baseball team as the Buccaneers fell to No. 30 Georgia by a score of 3-2 on Wednesday evening at Foley Field in Athens, Ga.

Freshman Brian Welch was 2-for-3 with one run for the Bucs. Jaren Sustar was 2-for-4 and accounted for CSU's other run, while Cody Austin and Alex Tomasovich each recorded an RBI.

Levi Mauldin got the start and went a full six innings to take the loss, giving up three runs and six hits while striking out three. Reliever Charlie McCready, who continues to lead the nation in ERA, pitched two scoreless innings and gave up just two hits.

UGA starter Ben Cornwell pitched 4.2 innings, giving up two runs and five hits while striking out three batters. However, he was just short earning the win which ultimately went to relief pitcher Bryan Benzor. Benzor gave up one hit and no runs in 1.2 innings and struck out two batters. Each pitching staff gave up eight hits.

Jonathan Hester was 2-for-3 with a run for the Bulldogs, while Peter Verdin was 1-for-3 and also crossed home plate. Levi Hymans had UGA's third run and Kyle Farmer had a team-high two RBI.

The Bulldogs struck early to get on the board in the first inning. Hyams, the leadoff hitter, was walked before making it home on a sac fly by Farmer to give the UGA a 1-0 lead.

UGA added another run in the third, taking a 2-0 lead when Verdin made it home on a single by Farmer. An inning later, the Bulldogs bats did it again. Hester tripled to left field, and then made it home on a groundout by Stephens to put Georgia up 3-0.

The Buccaneers began their comeback bid in the fifth inning, starting a Sustar single to left field. He was advanced on a single by Welch, as well as UGA error. A groundout by Austin brought Sustar home to put the Bucs on the board at 3-1. Tomasovich then singled to bring Welch home, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, the CSU offense stalled after that as they took the 3-2 loss.

This week marks the second time the Bucs (17-15) have come up a run short against the Bulldogs, who they have now faced a total of six times. UGA (16-14) defeated CSU 1-0 in the first contest of a three-game series back in 2001. The Bulldogs have won all six games.

CSU will finish up the week with the final three games of their five-game road swing when they head to Gardner-Webb for a Big South Conference match up with the Bulldogs. The two teams will kick things off with a 7 p.m. contest on Friday evening in Boiling Springs, N.C.