Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team garnered a doubleheader sweep over nationally 14th-ranked Flagler College on Saturday afternoon at J.H. Satcher Field.
The Pacers (14-6-1, 2-2 PBC) won game one, 6-4, and they secured the sweep with a 5-1 victory over the Saints (16-8, 1-3 PBC) in game two.
USC Aiken finished the week with a 4-2 record by earning two home doubleheader sweeps.
The Pacers will be on the road for the next week starting with a non-conference twinbill at Lenoir-Rhyne on March 11. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Pacers will next remain on the road for to Peach Belt Conference doubleheaders with Young Harris and North Georgia. The Young Harris doubleheader is on March 13, and the Pacers travel to North Georgia the next day, March 14.
USC Aiken will next be at home on March 22 as they play host to Georgia Southwestern. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Game 1: USC Aiken 6, Flagler 4
USC Aiken completed a comeback victory by defeating Flagler, 6-4, in game one Saturday afternoon.
Flagler was able to score two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-1 lead. Three of the Saints' four runs were unearned, and the Pacers were able to settle in defensively behind India Kornegay after the first two innings.
Victoria Burkett drove in the Pacers' first run with a single to right field in the first inning. Brittney Williamson scored on the play to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the time.
The Pacers had a big third inning, pushing across three runs to tie the game at 4-4. Hillary Stewart struck first with a double down the left field line that scored Lindsey Jones. A few batters later Kaitlyn White singled up the middle to plate Stewart (Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood HS) and Cortney Sadler.
USC Aiken would pick up the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a bunt single by Brandy Bossle. Burkett (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert HS) scored on the play. Burkett would drive in an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning by driving in Jones (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta HS) on another single.
The Pacers out-hit the Saints 12-6 in game one. Burkett led the Pacer offense by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Williamson, Jones, Stewart and Bossle (North East, Md./Rising Sun HS) would collect two hits apiece in game one. Jones also scored two runs in the game.
Lauren Bessent was the only Saint to get multiple hits in game one.
Kornegay (7-2) picked up the win for USC Aiken, pitching a complete game. Kornegay allowed six hits and fanned seven Saints in the victory.
Kalyn Loverich got the loss for Flagler. She now owns an 8-5 record on the season.
Game 2: USC Aiken 5, Flagler 1
USC Aiken claimed the doubleheader sweep over Flagler by winning game two, 5-1.
Flagler scored first again in game two in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead, but that would not last long. Lauren Roudabush drove in Molly Whittington to plate Flagler's only run of the game.
The Pacers scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a lead that they would never relinquish. White (McAllen, Texas/College of Charleston) scored first for the Pacers on a passed ball. Later in the at-bat, Jones would drive a double to the gap in right-center that would score Williamson (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll HS) and Sarah Montei (Summerville, S.C./Summerville HS).
The Pacers would score two more runs on a wild pitch and an error to secure the 5-1 victory.
USC Aiken out-hit Flagler 8-2 in game two of the doubleheader. Jones led the way going 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Pacers in the game. Sadler (Bradenton, Fla./State College of Fla., Manatee-Sarasota) and Shannon Traylor (Prosperity, S.C./Mid-Carolina HS) would each get two hits for USC Aiken.
No Saint was able to collect multiple hits in game two.
Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Week Taylor Morgan would pitch a complete game for USC Aiken earning the victory. Morgan (Chapin, S.C./Chapin HS) gave up only two hits and one run while striking out three batters. Morgan now owns a 7-4 record on the season.
Katie Enright took the loss for the Saints, dropping her record to 7-2.
