Athens, Ga. ? Kansas University’s softball team lost a heartbreaking battle with Georgia Tech, 3-1 in nine innings, in an NCAA Regional opening-round game Friday night at UGA Softball Stadium.

KU (30-23) will face Tennessee Tech — which lost later Friday to Georgia, 7-3 — at 1:30 p.m. today.

Tech broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning on a hit by Caitlin Lever, who drove in Kirin Kumar from second. KU starter Serena Settlemier walked the next batter, but struck out Daisy Paez for the third time and end the threat.

Settlemier tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, drilling her eighth home run of the season, a two-out solo shot down the left-field line. The run was the first Jessica Sallinger had allowed in 26 innings, dating to May 9.

The Jayhawks had a chance to win in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of players in scoring position, but could not score. Nettie Fierros reached on an error to lead off and advanced to second on a bad throw by Sallinger on Ashley Frazer’s bunt. Nicole Washburn advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Heather Stanley struck out, and Fierros was tagged out at home on a slap hit.

The Yellow Jackets scored two runs in the top of the ninth on two hits and a double steal. Katie Donovan singled in Christine Sheridan, and Amy Hosier stole home after the Jayhawks threw to second on a steal attempt.

KU did manage to slow the lethal Tech running game, which ranked third in the nation with 2.65 steals an outing. In the first inning, KU catcher Elle Pottorf threw out Aileen Morales, caught for just the fifth time in 49 attempts. In the fourth inning, Pottorf also gunned down Lever, who had been 31-of-38 stealing.

The Yellow Jackets (50-12), the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference champions, had seven hits and committed two errors.

Settlemier (13-9) allowed six hits, struck out five, and walked two in 8 1/3 innings. Lefty reliever Christina Ross struck out two and gave up one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

Sallinger (28-7), the ACC Pitcher of the Year and league-tournament MVP, fanned eight batters, allowed four hits and walked none.

Stanley, celebrating her 21st birthday Friday, had two of KU’s four hits.