AIKEN, S.C. – Two one-run victories including the second spurred by Kelley King smacking a game-winning, walk-off double to score three runs kept the University of South Carolina Aiken softball team perfect at home in 2011 as the Pacers swept the Newberry Wolves 3-2 and 5-4 Wednesday afternoon at J.H. Satcher Field.

After ending the month of February on the losing end of four close games, the Pacers opened the month of March similar to the start of their season, with a pair of victories to improve them to 11-5 overall while Newberry is just the opposite at 5-11.

Newberry went up early, pushing one run across in the first inning and then another in the top of the third, keeping the Pacer defense on their toes and the Pacer bats virtually silent.

But the Pacers regrouped to mount a comeback. In the fifth inning, Haley Justice (North Augusta, S.C./Midland Valley) singled to reach base and advanced to third off a double by nine-hole hitter Brandy Bossle (North East, Md./Rising Sun).

With two runners in scoring position, and the Pacers going back to the top of their lineup, Newberry committed their lone error of the game, and it proved to be a costly one. Kayla Denham (Palatka, Fla./Daytona State) sent a shot right at the shortstop who muffed the ball as Bossle raced past, allowing Denham to reach base safely and, more importantly, gave Justice enough time to cross the dish breathing new life into USC Aiken.

After holding the wolves at bay in the top of the next inning, the Pacers' bats remained hot as USC Aiken capitalized with two runs off four hits. Both Lauren Locklear (Charleston, S.C./Wando) and Brittney Williamson (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll) reached base well-placed hits to the outfield and promptly stole second giving sophomore catcher Nicole Borden two runners in prime scoring position and only one out registered on the score board. Borden capitalized on the golden opportunity with a double to the fence in left-center field that moved both Locklear and Williamson home to put the Pacers up for good 3-2.

For the first time this season freshman Samantha Lemm got the nod from head coach Jerry Snyder to start the game in the circle for USC Aiken. Lemm (Berlin, N.J./Eastern) pitched six and a third innings, striking out three batters to improve to 2-0 for the season while junior Kylee Knop came in for the last two outs of the seventh inning to record her first save of the season. Knop (Oxford, Ga./Kirkwood CC) retired both batters she faced, striking out one and then snagging a line drive hit right back at her to break the Pacers' four-game losing skid and seal the win.

The Pacers struggled to keep the pace in the beginning of the second game as Newberry leaped out to a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Whitney Clary (Newberry, S.C./Newberry HS) and Locklear both scored in the bottom of the inning to close the gap a bit, but they would be unable to pull any closer until the bottom of the very last inning.

Newberry retired the first two Pacers to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning before USC Aiken would make some noise as the first three in the Pacer lineup reached base safely on errors by the Wolves' defense.

With two outs and the bases loaded with three of the quickest players on the roster, King (Chesterfield, S.C./Chesterfield) stepped to the plate and built up a 3-1 count before ripping the ball all the way to the fence in right-center field. Despite just missing out on the grand slam by mere inches, King's walk-off double cleared the bases and gave USC Aiken the 5-4 victory they needed in game two to sweep Newberry and remain perfect at home this season.

With a sacrifice bunt in the first inning, junior second baseman Clary matched the school record for most sacrifice hits in a career as she registered her 22nd sacrifice hit of her career. Clary joins Rebecca White for top honors in the category as she is one of the best at laying down bunts to move players into scoring position.

Sophomore hurler Lauren Rickabaugh (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) came into the game in the fourth inning to record the win, improving to 3-0 this season after registering three strikeouts.

Felicia Taylor suffered both losses in the circle for Newberry to fall to 1-6.

USC Aiken will have little time to enjoy their victories as they go on the road tomorrow, Thursday, March 3, traveling down Interstate 20 to Florence, S.C. The Pacers will be renewing their in-state rivalry with the Patriots of Francis Marion in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. with the second game to follow shortly after the conclusion of the first game.