Athens, Ga. – In the first-ever matchup of top 25 programs in USC Upstate's Division I era, third-ranked Georgia broke on top early and took a 9-1 victory over the No. 25 Spartans Wednesday night in non-conference softball action at Jack Turner Stadium.

Upstate fell to 28-3 on the year and will welcome Belmont and Lipscomb to Spartanburg this Friday and Saturday in the Spartans' A-Sun opening weekend. Upstate will take on Belmont at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and Lipscomb on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Cyrill Stadium. Georgia improved to 24-4.

"Give credit to Georgia. It is probably the best hitting performance I have ever seen. We put the ball in play and we didn't make any errors. We just couldn't stop them offensively. We are excited about starting conference play this weekend," said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins.

Georgia jumped on top with three runs in the first inning to set the tone for the game. Taylor Schlopy led off the game with a solo home run and Alisa Goler followed with a two-run homer to make in a 3-0 game.

Ashley Pauly singled up the middle to drive in a run in the second, giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. Upstate cut into the deficit in the third when Kim Brasil (Mississauga, Ontario) scored after Katie Zauner (Canby, Ore.) reached on an infield single and the throw to first went by Georgia's first baseman.

Georgia, though, answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on Brianna Hesson's two-run home run. The Bulldogs made it a 9-1 score with three runs in the fourth.

Upstate put a runner on in the fifth inning when Brasil singled with two outs. However, the Spartans could not get her home and the game ended. Brasil led Upstate at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run.

Upstate starter Morgan Childers (Kings Mountain, N.C.) went 2 1/3 innings. She gave up six runs in taking her second loss of the season, falling to 20-2 on the year. Georgia starter Alison Owen tossed four innings and earned the win to improve to 9-1.