TROY, Ala. - Georgia State scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to snap a 1-1 tie and collect a 4-1 Sun Belt Conference Tournament softball win over Georgia Southern on Tuesday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex.

The 10th-seeded Panthers (16-28) advance to take on second-seeded Texas State in the double elimination portion of the tournament on Wednesday. Seventh-seeded Georgia Southern sees its season come to a close at 17-26.

The Panthers opened up the scoring in the top of the third as Daisy Hess drilled a two-out RBI double down the right field line. Georgia Southern answered in the bottom of the fourth as Jess Mazur singled with runners at the corners to drive in Bailee Wilson and tie the score at 1-all.

Hess opened up the pivotal sixth inning with a triple to right center, then scored on a wild pitch. Skylar Mosel then added a pair of runs with a double for the final 4-1 margin.

Sophie Mooney notched the complete-game victory with seven innings of six-hit, one-run ball, walking one while striking out seven to improve to 7-11 on the year. Aaliyah Garcia (7-7) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up nine hits and four runs in six innings of work, walking one.

"Tough, tough game," Georgia Southern Head Coach Kim Dean said. "Georgia State is a very good competitor. We came in feeling confident and on a high, but we just couldn't get it done. Postseason is its own beast, and learning how to navigate that - I need to continue to do a better job in preparing us and teaching us why it's so important to dominate the details."

The Eagles lose four players from the 2021 squad - fifth-years Mekhia Freeman, Shayla Smith and Alia Booth, as well as senior Harlee Rewis. Georgia Southern will return 21 players for the 2022 season.

"All in all, I'm very proud of our seniors," Coach Dean said. "I'm going to miss them, we really wanted that first Sun Belt postseason win for them. Hopefully lessons will keep being learned and the girls will use this in the offseason to fuel them."