MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team dropped both games of a road Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with nationally 21st-ranked Georgia College on Wednesday.
USC Aiken (22-20-1, 9-11 PBC) lost the first game to No. 21 Georgia College (32-12, 14-4 PBC), 7-4, and then fell in a marathon 12-inning game, 4-3.
The Pacers will next be in action at home on Saturday, April 13 as they play host to Lander. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. The doubleheader will serve as Senior Day for the Pacers as they close out their regular-season schedule.
Game 1: #21 Georgia College 7, USC Aiken 4
Georgia College took the first game of the doubleheader from USC Aiken, 7-4, on Wednesday evening.
The Bobcats did all their damage over two innings, led by a five-run fourth inning. The Pacers scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and plated two runs in the sixth in their comeback bid.
Georgia College opened the scoring by putting up two runs in the third inning. A pair of singles by Abi LeRoy and Kelsea Martin drove in the two runs for the Bobcats.
Lindsey Jones (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta HS) scored on a fielder's choice to plate the first Pacer run in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Bobcats answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four of the five runs on walks or an illegal pitch. LeRoy had her second RBI-single of the game in the fourth as well.
The Pacers added a run in the top of the fifth when Sarah Montei (Summerville, S.C./Summerville HS) scored on an error to cut into the lead. Kaitlyn White (McAllen, Texas/College of Charleston) and Montei both had RBI-singles in the sixth inning to make the score 7-4, but that would be as close as the Pacers would get. Brittney Williamson (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll HS) and Shannon Traylor (Prosperity, S.C./Mid-Carolina HS) scored runs in the inning.
USC Aiken and Georgia College both had eight hits in game one. Jones and Williamson each had two hits, a double and scored a run to lead the Pacer offense.
LeRoy and Martin were the only Bobcats with multiple hits in game one.
India Kornegay (Eufaula, Ala./Eufaula HS) took the loss for the Pacers in the first game. Kornegay (12-11) struck out nine, but surrendered seven walks in the game.
Dani Gallucci (12-4) earned the win for Georgia College, pitching a complete game.
Game 2: #21 Georgia College 4, USC Aiken 3 (12 innings)
USC Aiken fell to Georgia College, 4-3, in 12 innings in game two. The game was the longest of the season for the Pacers.
Georgia College was able to score a run in the bottom of the 12th inning to end the lengthy game.
Each team was able to score in the first inning, but then neither team would score again until the seventh inning.
The Pacers were able to strike first, pushing across a run in the top of the first inning off the bat ofVictoria Burkett (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert HS). Burkett hit a single that drove in Montei, giving the Pacers a 1-0 lead.
The lead would not last long as the Bobcats were able to answer with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. LeRoy hit a two-run home run that scored Frankie Walls.
After the early runs, a pitchers' duel ensued over the next five innings until the Pacers scored in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 2-2.
USC Aiken scored in the seventh inning when Alyssa Cook (St. Leonard, Md./Aiken Tech) hit a double over the center fielder's head to score Traylor. Traylor came in to pinch-run after Cortney Sadler (Bradenton, Fla./State College of Fla., Manatee-Sarasota) singled to get on base. Traylor then stole second to get into scoring position.
Taylor Morgan (Chapin, S.C./Chapin HS) allowed only one hit over the next six innings. Morgan retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the Pacers to their 12th extra-inning game of the season. Kornegay replaced Morgan in the eighth inning with one runner on and no outs and struck out the side.
The Pacers scored an extra-inning run in the 10th inning on a sacrifice fly by White. Cook scored on the play after reaching on an error earlier in the inning.
The Bobcats answered with a run of their own to further extend the game in the bottom half of the inning. Martin picked up an RBI single to score the Bobcats run. Kornegay was able to induce a foul out and a strikeout to end the inning with the bases loaded and keep the game knotted at 3-3.
LeRoy scored the winning run for the Bobcats on a throwing error in the bottom of the 12th inning to end the game.
The Bobcats out-hit the Pacers, 9-6, in the marathon game. No Pacer was able to claim multiple hits in the game. Two Bobcats collected multiple hits, led by LeRoy who went 4-for-5.
The Pacer pitchers combined to strike out 19 batters in the game. Morgan struck out 10 and Kornegay struck out nine in relief. Kornegay (12-12) took the loss for the Pacers in game two.
Marisa Boyette (14-5) obtained the victory for the Bobcats, pitching five innings in relief.
