Athens , Ga. — The University of Maine softball team, competing in its first NCAA Regional since 2004, dropped a 6-0 decision at No. 16 Georgia on Friday afternoon. The Black Bears managed five hits against the SEC member Bulldogs. Maine will take on Oklahoma St. in an elimination game today at 3:30 p.m.

Kennebunk native Janelle Bouchard, who is Maine’s starting catcher, had one of the five hits for the Black Bears.

Erin Bogdanovich went the distance in the circle for Maine, giving up six runs, five earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

“I told our girls that having the opportunity to play in a regional is huge for us and we will be better prepared for tomorrow when we go play,” said head coach Mike Coutts. “Hats off to Georgia. They certainly are an SEC school that is good, but I thought that our girls competed very well today too. We got behind and we didn’t give in. We competed.”

Felicia Lennon went 1-for-3 with a single and played flawless defense at shortstop with four putouts. Rachel Carlson, Rachel Harvey and Maddie Decker each added hits.

Georgia struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. The first two Bulldogs worked walks and soon advanced. With runners on second and third, Alyssa DiCarlo found the gap in right center, bringing in two.

Lennon looked to get something started for the Black Bears as she recorded Maine’s first hit in the second. However, the next two Black Bears were retired to end the frame.

The Bulldogs added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Tina Iosefa’s high-fly to left resulted in an RBI triple. DiCarlo drove in her third run of the day on an RBI groundout to second. With two on and two outs, Bogdanovich escaped further damage with an inning-ending strikeout.

Iosefa extended the Bulldog lead in the fifth with a solo home run to left.

Maine again looked to begin a rally in the sixth when pinch-hitter Decker laced a single into left. However, a double-play on a sharp line drive back to the pincher ended the brief threat.

Georgia squeezed in a run in the sixth, pushing its lead to 6-0 after six innings.

The Bulldogs hung on, defeating the Black Bears, 6-0.

Maine will meet Oklahoma St. in an elimination game today at 3:30 p.m broadcast live on ESPN3. It will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.