STATESBORO - Mekhia Freeman's sixth-inning sacrifice fly scored Ashlynn Gunter with the tiebreaking run and Jodi Handler hurled 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief, enabling Georgia Southern to claim a 6-5 Sun Belt Conference softball victory over visiting Georgia State on Thursday evening at Eagle Field.

The win not only bolsters the chances of the Eagles (21-27, 7-17 SBC) making the 2019 Sun Belt Conference tournament, but it also gives them a leg up on claiming a point in the Southern vs. State Rivalry Series. One more win by GS this weekend will earn a point for the Eagles. Georgia State (8-44, 5-20 SBC) was mathematically eliminated from making the tournament with the loss.

The Panthers were the team that started out hot, getting three first-inning runs to take the early lead, but the Eagles responded with a two-out, two-RBI single from Shelby Wilson to close the gap to one. An unearned run pushed across by the Panthers in the top of the third made the score 4-2, but the Eagles benefited from a Georgia State error in the bottom of the third, then got a two-run single from Macy Coleman to take a 5-4 lead.

Georgia State tied the game up at 5-all in the top of the fourth on a Kristin Dawkins RBI double. Handler entered after that for the Eagles and hurled 3 2/3 innings of four-hit shutout ball, walking two and striking out one to notch her third win of the season.

The sixth inning started with the Eagles getting a leadoff double to center field from Gunter, then a ground ball by Logan Harrell moved Gunter to third. Ellington Day followed with a hot shot to third, fielded by Hawkins of Georgia State. She caught Gunter in a rundown between third and home, but Gunter was able to make it back safely to third, while Day alertly took second. Freeman then followed with a fly ball down the left field line that was plenty deep to score Gunter with the go-ahead run.

In the top of the seventh, Georgia State got a leadoff single from Kalynn Hicks. Pinch runner Olivia Davis then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs and Davis still at second, Reagan Morgan hit a ground ball to short that was initially bobbled by the Eagles' Macy Coleman, but when she gathered the ball, she realized Davis was off the bag at third. She threw to Hannah Farrell at third, and when Davis broke for home, Farrell threw to Logan Harrell at the plate for the game-ending out.

"Outstanding first game of the series," Georgia Southern Head Coach Kim Dean said. "We got down early, but fought back. Rylee [Waldrep] was able to get a strong outing to get us going, then Jodi [Handler] coming in and just shutting them down. We had timely hitting, something we've preached all year, and the sixth inning had quality at-bats, Ashlynn [Gunter] getting the double to start us off, Logan [Harrell] pulling a ball to be sure we could get her to third. Ellie [Ellington Day] with her speed forcing the issue, then Mekhia with a great ball to the outfield that I could have tagged anyone on. All in all great team win, and live to fight another day."

Georgia State reliever Amanda Chance (0-17) took the loss for the Panthers, giving up two hits and one run in three innings of work, walking one while striking out one.

Shelby Wilson and Freeman each had two hits for the Eagles on the night, while Gabby Benson's three hits led the Panthers.