Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C. - The No. 13 USC Aiken softball team split their Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with the visiting Braves of UNC Pembroke at J.H. Satcher Field Friday afternoon. The Pacers dominated the first game 13-2 but fell short in the second at 2-0.

The Pacers improve to 9-3 overall in the 2010 campaign and are now 3-1 in conference play. UNC Pembroke is now 10-4 overall in 2010 and 3-1 in the PBC.

The Pacers controlled the first game handily from the plate, ending the game in just five innings due to their 11-point lead over the Braves. The Pacers out hit the Braves 11-5 with UNC Pembroke committing six errors in four innings.

The Pacers put themselves up on the board early in the first game and never let up. Sophomore second baseman Whitney Clary (Newberry, S.C./Newberry HS) put the Pacers up in the top of the first when she crossed the plate off a Toni Flessate (Goose Creek, S.C./Stratford) strike up the middle to center field.

The Braves answered in the top of the second inning when Holly Berry reached base on a single to left field and then stole second base and found her way to third. She was batted in when Lynn Grantham hit a double to deep right field to even the score at 1-1.

The bottom of the second inning saw the Pacers turn up the heat at the plate as three runners scored. Blair Warren (Darlington, S.C./Florence-Darlington Tech) led the Pacer charge with a single up the middle.

Senior Niki Sidaway (Wiley Ford, Va./Potomac State) followed by reaching base on a throwing error by the second baseman and then advanced to second base while Warren made it safely to third.

Freshman Brandy Bossle (North East, Md./Rising Sun) then stepped up to the plate and found herself on first after a fielder's choice was muffed by the first baseman.

Warren crossed the dish to put the Pacers up 2-1 and Sidaway advanced safely to third base. The errors kept coming for the Braves as Bossle was able to out-maneuver the first baseman on a botched pick off attempt which led to Sidaway score on another botched pick off attempt by the first baseman.

Bossle advanced to second on the botched pick off attempt before Clary came to bat. Clary sent a double to right field and Bossle used her speed to score from second base putting the Pacers ahead 4-1 before UNC Pembroke could slow the charge.

The Braves fought to stay in the game in the top of the third inning when Morgan Patrick scored off a hit by Randi Pruitt up the left field line to keep the score within reach for the Braves at 4-2.

However, the Pacers would not let the Braves hopes stay up for long as their bats stayed hot in the bottom of the third inning. Leading the charge this time for USC Aiken was senior Flessate when she hit a single to right field.

The Pacers made a staff change to put freshman Haley Justice (North Augusta, S.C./Midland Valley) in to pinch run for Flessate and just a few plays later, she showed why by using her speed to steal second base. Warren then moved Justice over to third when she singled to the shortstop and promptly stole second base herself.

With two runners in scoring position, Sidaway then put a ball in play and made it safely to second base when the left fielder mishandled the ball. Both Justice and Warren crossed the plate to put the Pacer lead at 6-2.

???????Bossle came to the plate and was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Sidaway into scoring position, but a throwing error by the UNCP pitcher helped Sidaway speed across the plate and allowed Bossle to reach base safely.

USC Aiken put the game well out of reach for UNC Pembroke in the bottom of the fourth inning when six Pacers crossed the dish and all nine batters went to the plate. Clary led the Pacer charge with a single to center field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.

After junior Lauren Locklear (Charleston, S.C./Wando) reached base by being walked, Sidaway singled to score Clary and advance Locklear to second base. Nicole Borden (Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles School) then loaded the bases for Warren on an error by the shortstop.

Warren sent a deep single to right field to score both Locklear and Flessate putting the score at 9-2 and move Borden to third base. Sidaway then loaded the bases once more for the Pacers when the UNCP pitcher walked her.

Candice Hardee (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale) then stepped to the dish to pinch hit for Bossle. Borden then scored while Sidaway and Warren advance on a wild pitch.

Freshman Lindsey Jones (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) completed the bat-around for the Pacers with a single up the middle to center field. Both Sidaway and Warren scored on the play to give the Pacers their final score of 13-2.

Warren and Flessate led the Pacers at the plate both going 3-for-3. Warren also chipped in three runs and two RBIs for her best game in a Pacer uniform.

Caroline Newman suffered the loss for the Braves giving up 11 hits and 13 runs. She drops to 6-4 for the 2010 season.

Toni Flessate earned the win in the circle for the Pacers in just five innings of work. She improves to 4-1 on the season.

The second game started off slower than the first seeing the first three innings pass scoreless. The Braves were able obtain just two hits while the Pacers were held to one hit and one error.

UNC Pembroke broke through on offense in the top of the fourth with the game's lone two runs when Courtney Hill and Loren Bartz crossed the dish to put the Braves up 2-0. Hill scored when Bartz singled to centerfield just ahead of Berry who was thrown out at home by centerfielder Kellie Hair (Aiken, S.C./Aiken Tech).

???????Bartz crossed the dish to score UNC Pembroke's winning run a few plays later thanks to the bat of Grantham who doubled to right center.

The Pacers failed to get any offense going in the second game getting just three hits. Hair led the Pacers at the plate going 2-for-2.

Alex Hartshorn earned the win in the circle for the Braves striking out five batters and giving up just three hits. She moves to 2-0 for the season.

Sophomore Lauren Rickabaugh (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) suffered her first loss of the season. She drops to 5-1 for the 2010 campaign.

???????The Pacers will look to close out the month of February with another home PBC double header at J.H. Satcher Field by hosting in-state rivals Francis Marion (8-4, 2-2) Sunday, Feb. 28. The first game is scheduled to start at around 12 p.m. with the second game to follow at around 2 p.m.