ATHENS, Georgia – The UNCW softball team opened NCAA Athens Regional play with an 8-0 setback in five innings against No. 11 Georgia on Friday afternoon at Jack Turner Stadium.
The host Bulldogs (40-16) move onto the winner's bracket to play Liberty on Saturday. The Seahawks (33-22) will face Charlotte in an elimination game on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. (NEW TIME) on ESPN+.
The loser of the Georgia-Liberty game will play the winner of the UNCW-Charlotte game shortly following the completion of that game (approximately 4 p.m.).
Georgia's Madison Kerpics (13-3) allowed one hit and walked two across five innings in the NCAA Regional opener for both teams.
UNCW's Emily Winstead (13-8) surrendered six runs, five earned, in three innings. Freshman Peyton Eckert worked 1.2 relief innings.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first when Georgia's Sara Mosely rocketed a grand slam over the center field wall to put the Bulldogs in front and never looked back.
Shortstop Mary Sobataka went 1-for-1 at the plate with a walk. First baseman Lauren Cope also reached twice on a walk and hit by pitch.
The Seahawks made their second NCAA Regional in three years on Friday and played Georgia for the first time in four seasons.
UNCW and Charlotte met in early March in the Queen City with the 49ers earning a slim 2-1 victory over the Seahawks, who collected nine hits in that contest.
