Panthersville, Ga.?Georgia State's long-time softball coach Bob Heck earned his 600th career victory and the Panthers ran their record to 9-1 after going 1-1 in the Panther Invitational, defeating Dayton, 8-2, and dropping the nightcap to Tennessee State, 0-3, Saturday at Bob Heck Field.

Heck, 82, earned the milestone victory in Saturday's first game against Dayton. His record now stands at 600-523-2, all at Georgia State, which he has coached for 21 seasons.

In the first game against Dayton, freshman Lauren Jones went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in. Senior Holly Willis went a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Alicia Mills improved her record to 3-0 on the season, allowing six hits, one earned run and fanning 11.

The Panthers started their rally in the bottom of the second when sophomore Rachel Cunningham led off the inning with a hard hit double to left center. Rebecca Roles walked before junior Holly Willis legged out a bunt single to the pitcher, allowing Cunningham to score. Roles scored, making it 2-0, on an error by the left fielder.

In the third inning, freshman Lauren Jones belted her fifth home run of the season, bringing in two runs, putting the Panthers ahead 4-0.

Cunningham led of the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle, followed by a two bag drive to center field, putting runners at second and third. Roles hit a long fly ball to right, allowing Cunningham to score and Gowin to advance to third on the sacrifice. With one out, Willis connected with a line drive single up the middle, scoring Gowin, putting the Panthers up 6-2. With two out and one on, junior Natasha Berry came up with a hard hit double to left field, scoring Willis from second. The final Panther run came from an error on the Dayton third basemen, bringing Berry home and giving the Panthers an 8-2 lead, and the win.

In the nightcap, the Panthers failed to score as Tennessee State brought across three runs, improving their record to 4-0. The game went scoreless until the third inning when Tennessee State's Tamara Perkins hit a two out double to center field. Jill Gardiner singled, brining home Perkins, proving the only run the Tigers would need.

The Panthers return back to action Sunday at 12:15 p.m. when they take on the Dayton Flyers. The Panthers will also play again at 2:30 p.m. in the final game of the Panther Invitational.