GREENSBORO, N.C. – Georgia Southern dropped its first opportunity to book a spot in the 2014 SoCon Softball Tournament Championship Game with a 2-1 loss to UNCG in Friday's semifinal round. The loss was the first of the tournament for the Eagles and forces a decisive elimination game on Friday afternoon at 2:50 p.m. for a trip to the Championship Finale.

UNCG scored the first run of the game in the third inning by stringing together a pair of hits to get runners on second and third with one out. The Spartans got what looked to be a sacrifice fly to right, but the runner was held on account of Kaitlyn Johnson's throwing ability. With two outs Kaitlyn Bedwell hit what looked to be a ground out to third, but a bad throw allowed the inning to continue and a run to score. Purvis walked the bases loaded, but got the strikeout, her sixth of the game to retire the side in the third.

The Eagles tied the game in the sixth inning with a single unearned run. A fielding error by the shortstop put Johnson on first base, she was moved over on a bunt play. Brianna McLendon then laced a double into the gap in left to tie the game at 1-1 with the fifth hit of the day for the Eagles. A strikeout and ground out, however, stranded McLendon at second base.

UNCG went back on top in the bottom half of the sixth when Toni MacReynolds hit an RBI single to the fence in left after a leadoff walk to Nicole Thomas put a runner on base. Thomas was able to score standing up to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage entering the seventh inning.

UNCG issued a walk to Kourtny Thomas in the seventh, but the Eagles could not advance the runner with two outs as the Spartans forced the "if necessary" game.

Sarah Purvis was handed the loss to fall to 20-12 on the season. She matched a season-high with 13 strikeouts and raises her tournament total to 38. Purvis was charged with just one earned run and gave up just three hits in the game.

The Eagles and Spartans are back in action at approximately 2:50 p.m. in an elimination semifinal from the UNCG Softball Stadium. The winner will advance to face Chattanooga in the 2014 SoCon Tournament Championship Game on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets call 1-800-GSU-WINS.