MOBILE --  Georgia State scored five runs in the sixth inning to rally for a 5-3 win over UT Arlington Thursday night in Mobile, Ala., to stay alive in the Sun Belt Conference Championship. Daisy Hess and Jackie Gonzalez drove in runs in the winning inning, and Emily Buck tossed a complete game in the circle.
The No. 7 Panthers (21-32) now face No. 4 Troy (30-20) Friday in another elimination game in the Sun Belt Championship. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
It was a late start for the Panthers and Mavericks (22-27), as the previous game endured in a lightning delay to push the start to 9:54 pm ET.Â
With GSU trailing 3-0 after five innings, Skylar Chavez led off the sixth by reaching on a wild pitch. Carolyn Deady followed with single, and then Hess doubled to score Chavez with the Panthers' first run.
Gonzalez singled up the middle to drive in Deady from third, and a throwing error on the play allowed Hess to score the tying run, and Gonzalez moved up to second base with no outs.
Then Gabby Benson reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher as Gonzalez was able to get into a rundown between second and third and both runners were safe.
With two outs and runners still at first and second, Bailee Richardson hit a ground ball, but the shortstop's throw to first was wild. Richardson was safe and Gonzalez scored, and the first baseman made another throwing error to bring home Benson and give the Panthers a 5-3 lead.
Buck (9-7) pitched a complete game to earn her ninth win of the season, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Deady, the sophomore catcher, went 2-for-2 in the game with two singles, two walks and run scored, while Hess extended her school record with her 29th stolen base of the season.
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