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The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team got off to a rough start in the Southern Conference tournament Wednesday in Greensboro, N.C., losing 6-2 to Georgia Southern in their opening game of the double-elimination tournament.

Freshman pitcher Rachel Albritton gave up a pair two-run home runs by Shelby Morrill and A.J. Hamilton in the first two innings and lasted only 1 1/3 innings before being relieved by sophomore Taylor Deason. That was more than enough offense for GSU pitcher Sarah Purvis.

The Lady Mocs (26-27) fell further behind in the fourth inning when the Eagles scored two more runs to take a 6-0 lead, but UTC finally cut into the lead in the fifth inning with two runs on three hits and an error.

UTC did get eight hits against Purvis, but they were unable to put together a sustained rally.

Lady Mocs junior Kaiti Dutton went 2-for-3 and freshman Sam taylor was 2-for-4 to lead the UTC attack.

UTC, the tournament's No. 6 seed, now drops into the the losers bracket and will take on No. 2 College of Charleston this morning at 9 in an elimination game. Georgia Southern (29-27) will face seventh-seeded Western Carolina, which upset the Cougars 3-1.