NEWARK, DE -- The Georgia State University softball team scored three runs in the top of the fifth and held off a Blue Hen rally in the bottom of the seventh as the Panthers posted a 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association victory Sunday afternoon at Delaware Field.

Delaware, which fell to 21-10 overall and 3-3 in the conference, trailed by two runs heading into the final inning but quickly mounted a rally. After Marianne Marinella singled up the middle, Kate Termini singled to center, and Jenny Gilkins singled to center to load the bases with nobody out, Elizabeth Hyman relieved Panthers starter Chelsey Morgan in the circle.

The first batter Hyman faced was Katie Lee, who worked a walk to force home pinch-runner Megan Grau and make it a 3-2 game. However Allison Borchers (right) bounced into a fielder’s choice as Georgia State shortstop Nichole Griffin threw out Termini at the plate for the first out of the inning. Hyman then struck out Jessica Kozlowski swinging and got Michelle Plant to foul out to third baseman Alison Bradford to end the game.

Morgan picked up the win and improved to 2-4 on the year after allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out two in six-plus innings of work. Hyman earned her first save of the season as she did not allow a run in the final inning for the Panthers, who improved to 12-19 overall and 5-1 in league play.

Delaware starter Carolynn Sloat fell to 11-7 on the season as she gave up three runs, one earned, on six hits while striking out three in 4.2 innings. Lindsay Jones relieved Sloat and threw 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and one walk while posting five strikeouts.

The Blue Hens opened the scoring in the bottom of the third as Borchers singled to center with one out, moved to second on a groundout by Katie DeSalvo, and scored when Plant reached on a throwing error by Griffin. However Georgia State took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth.

Jamie Cagle led off the frame by tripling to leftfield, and one out later pinch-runner Holly Willis scored the tying run when Lauren Morlock reached on a throwing error by Plant at third base. Morlock was then thrown out trying to steal second by Blue Hen catcher Quinn Megargel, but Mary Kathryn Branan and Jackie Jaegle followed with singles to keep the inning alive. Jessica Gowan then drilled a triple to rightfield to score both runs, giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead and knocking Sloat out of the game.

The Blue Hens return to action on Wednesday when Delaware travels to La Salle for a 2 p.m. doubleheader with the Explorers.

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