NEWARK, DE -- Georgia State scored six runs in the top of the second inning and held off several Blue Hen rallies as the Panthers posted a 10-5 victory in Colonial Athletic Association softball action Saturday afternoon at Delaware Field.

Georgia State, which swept a doubleheader from Delaware on Friday, won all three games in the CAA opening series for both teams as the Panthers improved to 22-6 overall and 3-0 in the league. Delaware dropped to 10-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

The Panthers jumped on top in the top of the second inning by scoring six runs. Georgia State had runners on first and second with two outs when Rebecca Roles doubled home Jessica Gowin with the first run of the contest. Rachel Cunningham then scored when Holly Willis beat out a bunt single to make it a 2-0 game, and two runs scored when Danielle Roddy followed with a single into leftfield. Anne Marie Pagano was then relieved by Samantha Shawn in the circle for the Blue Hens, and after Shawn walked Natasha Berry to load the bases, Catherine Lee ripped a two-run single into left to give Georgia State the six-run cushion.

The Panthers added a run in the third when a bases loaded groundout by Willis chased home Cunningham, and the Panthers would have added two more runs but UD leftfielder Cecile Egan made a diving backhand stab of Roddy’s line drive to end the inning. The Blue Hens responded with a run in the bottom of the frame when Allison Borchers (at right) led off with a double to left and scored when Barbara Traynor singled up the middle.

Kim Ovittore led off the bottom of the fourth by reaching on an error, and after she moved to second on a wild pitch, Ovittore scored on a double to leftcenter by Michelle Grap. Grap then advanced to third on a single by Borchers and scored on a wild pitch to bring Delaware within 7-3.

The Panthers answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on run-scoring singles by Roles and Willis, but Delaware responded with a run in the bottom of the inning as Katie Lee singled and came around to score when Quinn Megargel reached on an error.

Georgia State increased its lead to 10-4 in the sixth as Catherine Lee singled with one out and came around to score when Egan couldn’t handle a single into left by Lily Skelton.

The Blue Hens mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Katie Lee led off with a bunt single and two outs later advanced to third when Michelle Kenney reached on an error. Grap then laced a double into the gap in leftcenter, scoring Lee with Delaware’s fifth run of the game. Borchers was then intentionally walked to load the bases, but Traynor’s hard groundball was fielded at first base by Gowin, who stepped on the base to end the game.

Georgia State starter Alicia Mills allowed five runs, just one earned, on nine hits while striking out 14 Blue Hens to improve to 10-3 on the season. Pagano gave up five earned runs on four hits in one and two-thirds innings to drop to 6-3, while Shawn allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of relief. Kenney gave up one unearned run in the final 2.2 frames for Delaware.

Borchers finished 3 for 3 with a walk, double, triple and run scored to lead the Blue Hen attack, while Grap was 2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Katie Lee went 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored, while Traynor and Egan each had one hit for Delaware.

The Blue Hens remain home on Tuesday when Delaware hosts Saint Joseph’s in a single game beginning at 3 p.m.

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