ATHENS, Ga. -The Chattanooga Mocs softball team fell to No. 4 overall seed Georgia 9-0 in their opening game of the NCAA Softball Regional in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs (46-12) struck first in the bottom of the second, getting an RBI double to right centerfield from catcher Katie Browne. Browne took third after a sacrifice bunt from Bethany Beggs, but Henderson forced Samantha LaZear to groundout to short and keep the Bulldogs from tacking on another run.

The Mocs (34-20) put a runner in scoring position as Stephanie Rieck singled to left field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but could not find a way to bring her home.

UGA tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third, as Puailoa took a Henderson pitch over the right field wall for a three-run home run to make the score 4-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Georgia plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Paige Wilson lined a single into right to bring home Malia Rivers to score the first run of the inning. In the next at bat, Geri Ann Glasco brought Wilson home on a two-out single to center, giving Georgia a 6-0 advantage. After a single by Tina Iosefa and a walk from Puailoa, Anna Swafford knocked a bases-clearing triple into the gap in left centerfield to push the Bulldog lead to 9-0.

Chattanooga would get runners on first and second after a Sam Taylor reached on a fielder’s choice and Sarah Beth Roberts drew a walk, but a groundout to third would end the inning and game.

Rieck reached base twice on a single and a walk, while Alyssa Taylor picked up the other hit for UTC.

Henderson (19-11) was tagged with the loss, throwing 3 2/3 while striking out three with eight runs allowed on eight hits.

Chattanooga will play UAB on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to play again at 5 p.m.