FAIRFAX, Va. – Saint Louis got a big fourth-inning momentum boost to defeat No. 4 Dayton 5-3 in game one of the 2017 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship at the George Mason Softball Complex Wednesday.

The fifth-seeded Billikens advance in the winner's bracket to face top-seeded Fordham Thursday at 12:00 pm. Dayton drops into the consolation bracket and will play the loser of No. 3 Saint Joseph's/No. 6 George Mason Wednesday at 5:00 pm.

The Flyers got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning with sac fly from Jaclyn Kweder that drove in Lisa Tassi from third.

Saint Louis answered by tacking on three runs in the fourth to take the lead. Alyssa Tarquinio singled up the right side to drive in Josie Knesel, and Ally Macfarlane scored on the throw. Taylor Meeks followed with a hard single to left center to drive in Mackenzie Peter giving the Billikens the momentum. 

The Billikens added two more runs off a hard triple from Macfarlane, which drove in Mackenzie Lawson and Alex Nickel, extending the Billikens leaded to 5-1. Macfarlane and Tarquinio led Saint Louis with two hits apiece.

Dayton managed to add two late runs in the seventh off a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and a fielder's choice, but they stranded the tying run on first, ending the game.

Maddie Balman (15-12) got the win for the Billikens, allowing just three hits on three runs while striking out five through seven innings of work.

The game was the first of the double elimination championship, which began Wednesday on the campus of George Mason University.