ATLANTA, Georgia– A big fifth inning was the difference for the UT Arlington softball team (14-12, 4-2 SBC), as they fell to the Georgia State Panthers 3-2 in the final game of the series on Sunday.
 
JoJo Valencia (3-2) started for the Mavs in the circle, tossing 4.0 innings while allowing three runs off two hits, though only one run was earned. Allie Gardiner finished the game, allowing just one hit in two innings pitched.
 
Neither team could get the bats going until the Mavs ended the scoreless streak in the third inning when Shelbi Court grounded out to second base to score Whitney Walton.
 
The Mavs extended the lead by one run in the top of the fifth when Walton scored again, this time coming off the bat of Laura Curry.
 
The bottom of the fifth would be the downfall for UTA.  Two errors kept the inning alive for the Panthers.  A sacrifice fly brought home the first run of the inning, before the second error of the inning allowed the game tying run to score.  Moments later, another sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run for the Panthers.
 
UTA got base runners in the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to bring them home as Georgia State held on to the win 3-2.
 
UP NEXT
The Mavs will return home on Wednesday, March 20 for a midweek matchup with Houston Baptist with a first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. at Allan Saxe Field.