ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of North Dakota softball team bounced back from a tough Friday with a split in Saturday's action in Athens, Ga. in the first of two straight days at the UGA Classic. 

UND (7-12) took on No. 18 Georgia in the day's opener before rallying to defeat East Carolina in the finale to halt a four-game losing streak. 

No. 18 Georgia 7, North Dakota 1
A four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference, as the 18th ranked Bulldogs powered past UND, 7-1, to start the action down in Athens.

Nikki Pica worked two innings of clean softball before running into trouble over the middle innings to earn the defeat. The fifth-year player went 3.1 frames and allowed five runs while Lauren Feld finished the game with two strikeouts and two runs allowed. 

North Dakota collected five hits against a strong pitching staff from Georgia, with Caitlyn Shumaker leading the way with a pair of hits, including a double. Madison Pederson provided the big pop of the game on offense for the Hawks with a solo shot down the left field line in the top of the sixth to get UND on the board. Alexys Campos and Cassie Castenada picked up the other hits for the visitors, but the visitors struck out 12 times in the contest. 

North Dakota 3, East Carolina 2
A night after seeing an early lead slip away, this time it was UND who rallied from an early deficit to pick up a 3-2 victory over East Carolina to close out the first day of action at the UGA Classic. 

Madi Moore continues to thrive in her hitting role, lacing a hit and driving in a pair of runs to lead the way for the green and white. McKenzie Ryan was lethal at the bottom of the order for the Hawks as well, posting two hits and bringing home the game-winning run in the top of the fourth. Campos also collected a multi-hit day against the Pirates to make it three combined hits on Saturday. 

Adrianna Dilal battled to earn her third victory of the season, firing 6.1 frames of eight-hit, two-run ball while limiting the Pirates to just one walk and striking out a pair. The transfer couldn't quite finish the game, however, as Jannay Jones recorded the final two outs to earn the save. 

After ECU jumped out to a 1-0 lead after one inning, back-to-back singles by Ryan and Campos followed by a sacrifice by Chevelle Sartin put runners on second and third with just one out in the top of the third. Moore came up with the big hit, roping a double down the left field line to score a pair and put the Hawks in front, 2-1. 

A quick, 1-2-3 ensuing half inning by Dilal got the green and white right back to the plate, and the two-out damage came through. Ryan once again started the rally with a two-out double to right center to score Castenada, who singled in the previous at-bat, to push the advantage to 3-1 in the top of the fourth. 

East Carolina chipped the lead down to one, 3-2, but Dilal worked out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout and popout to keep the Hawks in front after four complete. 

The Pirates put runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth and seventh, but UND shut the door with strong defense to earn the 3-2 win. 

North Dakota closes out the UGA Classic tomorrow with another pair of games against ECU and No. 18 Georgia.