Box Score ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The sixth-seeded University of South Carolina Aiken softball team defeated nationally 13th ranked and third-seeded North Georgia 5-2 at the Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.
USC Aiken (25-20-1) eliminated North Georgia (36-12) from the Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament with the win.
The Pacers and Saints were locked in a scoreless tie until the fourth inning, when USC Aiken struck for all five of its runs.
The inning started off with back-to-back singles by Lindsey Jones (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta HS) and Victoria Burkett (Gilbert,SC/Gilbert HS). Jones advanced to third base on a throwing error. Cortney Sadler (Bradenton, Fla./State College of Fla., Manatee-Sarasota) then drove in the first run for the Pacers, bunting to bring Jones home. USC Aiken's Brittney Williamson (Lexington, S.C./White Knoll HS) and Hillary Stewart (Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood HS) would reach base on fielder's choices and Sarah Montei (Summerville, S.C./Summerville HS) would walk to load the bases for Alyssa Cook (St. Leonard, Md./Aiken Tech).
Cook would hit her first home run of the season, a grand slam, to give the Pacers the eventual winning runs.
North Georgia would add two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but would get no closer. Sarah Johnson and Megan May reached base for the Saints. Johnson walked and May reached on an error. Both scored on a Kim McMillan single.
Cook was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish in the Pacer victory. Jones was 2-for-4 for the Pacers in their win.
USC Aiken's India Kornegay (Eufaula, Ala./Eufaula HS) started the game for the Pacers, striking out 10 batters in five innings of work. Kornegay (14-12) only gave up two hits during her time in the circle.
Taylor Morgan (Chapin, S.C./Chapin HS) came in to relieve Kornegay, surrendering just one hit over the final two innings. Morgan picked up her first save of the year in the game.
PBC Freshman of the Year Courtney Poole suffered the loss for North Georgia. Poole (22-7) surrendered all five runs for the Saints, which were unearned.
USC Aiken will face second-seeded Georgia College in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
