ATHENS — Georgia Southern's softball team led North Carolina entering the bottom of the sixth inning Friday, but the Tar Heels scored a run in that frame and added an eighth-inning run to beat the Eagles, 2-1, on the first day of the NCAA Athens Regional.
    North Carolina clinched the victory on a bases-loaded hit by pitch which ended the game in the eighth inning.
    GSU will play Coastal Carolina in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. today at Jack Turner Stadium. The Chanticleers lost, 13-3, to Georgia in five innings.
    Live video of all games in the Athens Regional can be viewed for free on GeorgiaDogs.com.
    “I thought it was a great game, I was happy with the way we competed,” GSU first-year head coach Annie Smith said. “Sarah (Purvis) threw a great game, but we need to score more than one run to beat a very good team like North Carolina.”
    After three innings of scoreless ball to open the game, GSU scored the game’s first run in the top of the fourth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Andrea Tarashuk hit a single up the middle to score pinch-runner Jorie Walker from second and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
    In the sixth inning, a throwing error on a sacrifice attempt gave the Tar Heels an extra out to play with. UNC tied the game with one out on an RBI fielder’s choice by Haleigh Dickey. She hit the ball to GSU shortstop Kourtny Thomas, who threw the ball home where Wheeler scored on an obstruction call against GSU catcher Mackenzie Williams.
    The Tar Heels loaded the bases with two outs, but the Eagles got out of the jam to keep the game tied at 1.
    North Carolina got a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh and advanced the runner into scoring position on a wild pitch. A simple infield ground out sent the game to extra innings, GSU’s first extra-innings game in NCAA Tournament history.
    The Eagles opened the eighth inning with a leadoff single up the middle by pinch hitter Shelby Morrill. GSU, however, was unable to advance the runner and finished the frame with a runner stranded on first base.
    The Tar Heels got a hit from Dickey with one out in the seventh, and added another runner with a single down the left field line by Logan Foulks. A walk to the UNC designated player loaded the bases with one out in the inning. A pop up by Constance Orr behind the plate made it two outs. Jordan Scarboro was hit by the 1-0 pitch, handing the Tar Heels a 2-1 victory in eight innings.
    GSU's Purvis had a great outing, holding North Carolina to just six hits and one earned run. She struck out four but registered the loss and fell to 23-11.