ATLANTA, Ga -- After falling in game one of the double header, the Panthers took advantage of an early lead and defeated Dayton 5-3 on Friday afternoon. 

The Georgia State Panthers took a 3-1 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 5-3 victory against the Dayton Flyers on Friday.

Senior Kate Kastelic (1-1) started in the circle and picked up the win for Georgia State (4-10). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on 12 hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 1-0, the Panthers first put runs on the board in the first inning.

The Flyers failed to push any runs across before the Panthers built on their lead in the third inning. Georgia State produced a two-run frame, punctuated with an RBI triple from sophomore Bella Morton, which brought the score to 5-1 in favor of the Panthers. Dayton put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Georgia State still held on for the 5-3 win.

GAME NOTES

» Senior Chloe Middlebrooks compiled three base hits in the game for Georgia State.
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed three runs across.
» Georgia State grabbed a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 34 Dayton hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out three.
» The Panthers drew four walks from Dayton pitching.
» Junior Maia Mumpfield led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
» Dayton was led offensively by senior Chloe Wong, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

The Panthers head to Kennesaw State for day two of the I-75 Challeneg on Saturday afternoon.