HICKORY, N.C. – Half a step came between the University of South Carolina Aiken softball team (26-17) and possible extra innings to attempt to secure their first victory in NCAA Southeast Region play as the Pacers fell 1-0 to  the regionally second-seeded and nationally sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (42-8) in the opening round of the 2011 NCAA Southeast Softball Regional.

Kylee Knop (Oxford, Ga./Kirkwood) led USC Aiken's efforts at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance. Freshman Brittney Williamson (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) accrued the only other Pacer hit in the contest with a 1-for-2 outing.

The Bears secured the only run of the contest in the sixth inning off a double by Tameron Sealey that was ripped into centerfield giving Jaily Jarman enough time to round third from second and score.

India Korenegay (Eufaula, Ala./Eufaula) suffered the loss in the circle for USC Aiken after fanning seven batters to move to 13-9 on the season.

Dawon Millwood pitched the complete game en route to improving to 25-4 for the year.

Lenoir-Rhyne will continue on in the upper half of the bracket, facing off against the third-seeded Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic State (31-12) who defeated the sixth-seeded Eagles of Carson-Newman (39-16-1) 3-2 earlier in the day. The Bears and Pirates will tangle at 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 with the winner advancing on to the Southeast Region Championship Game.

The Pacers will face off against the Eagles after the first game at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game to stay alive in the NCAA Southeast Regional.