Manchester, N.H. - Georgian Court University, making its first NCAA Division II regional appearance since 2014, suffered a 4-2 setback to Southern New Hampshire University Thursday afternoon on Day One of the East 1 Regional.

The #4 Lions will now take on #8 University of Bridgeport Friday at 12:30 p.m. in an elimination game after the Purple Knights (33-15) dropped a 3-1 decision to #1 seed, Saint Anselm College (38-8), in the first contest of the afternoon. The host-Hawks will take on the Penmen tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. in the winner's bracket. 

SNHU center-fielder, Jordan Wade, put the #5-seed on the board first with a solo home run down the left-field line in the top of the second frame. Georgian Court countered when LF Malia Black reached on a fielder's choice, then went on to swipe both second and third base before coming in on a two-out fielding blunder to tie the game.

The score would stay knotted until the fourth as a double down the left-field line from SS Erin Tyrrell snapped the stalemate and put SNHU up, 2-1. The Penmen proceeded to put their mark on the contest in the subsequent inning, thanks to a two-run single off the bat of 1B Emily Carbonneau, which put Southern New Hampshire up, 4-1.

GCU (45-10) was able to get one tally back in the bottom of the fifth after a Malia Black single brought around pinch-runner Adriana Scimone from second base, but that would be it for the Lions' offense on the day.

SNHU starter, Maddy Barone (19-6), went the distance in the victory (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K) while Mikayla Gilgert (17-7) suffered the loss for the Lions (5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K).