ATLANTA — The Georgia State Panthers powered past the Yale Bulldogs in extra innings, walking off a 6-4 victory Sunday to close out the I-75 Challenge at Bob Heck Softball Complex.

Maia Mumpfield sealed the win with a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, capping the back-and-forth battle.

In the circle, Briana Bower was dominant across 7.0 innings, striking out eight Yale hitters. Makayla Stephens followed in extra innings, fanning five Bulldogs without issuing a walk to preserve the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Yale struck first in the second inning, opening the scoring with a solo RBI home run to take a 1-0 lead.

Georgia State remained scoreless until the fifth, when Zoey Defoor capitalized on a pickle to cross the plate and knot the game at 1-1.

The Bulldogs regained the advantage in the top of the seventh with a two-RBI single up the middle. The Panthers answered immediately, as Ciarra Jefferson launched a game-tying home run over the left-field fence to force extra innings at 3-3.

Yale pushed across a run in the top of the ninth to take a 4-3 lead, but Georgia State responded in dramatic fashion. Mumpfield's walk-off blast in the bottom half plated three runs and delivered the Panthers a 6-4 victory.

GAME NOTES
» Maia Mumpfield led the Panthers offensively, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs.
» Briana Bower set a career high with eight strikeouts.
» Georgia State pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.
» The Panthers' highest-scoring inning was the ninth, when they plated three runs.
» Seven Panthers recorded multi-hit performances.
» Georgia State finished with 15 hits and out-hit Yale, 15-6.
» Panther pitchers faced 36 Yale batters, inducing 10 groundouts and four flyouts while striking out 13.

UP NEXT
The Panthers head to Charleston for a four-game road swing, beginning with a midweek matchup against Charleston Southern on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. Georgia State then opens a three-game weekend series at Charleston on Friday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m.