AIKEN, S.C. – A dominant pitching performance and a late offensive surge guided the University of South Carolina Aiken softball team to a sweep of visiting Francis Marion Sunday by scores of 4-2 and 5-4.

The Pacers are now 28-11 overall, including 11-5 against Peach Belt Conference competition.

In the opener, neither team managed to plate a run the first four innings as India Kornegay and Taylor Luff – the top two strikeout artists in Division II – pitched extremely well in the circle.

However, head coach Jerry Snyder's team broke the scoreless tie in the fifth by plating three runs. With one down, Brittney Williamson singled to center and moved to second on a groundout. Kaitlyn White's double scored Williamson before Sarah Montei came up big once again, blasting a two-run homer for a 3-0 advantage.

USC Aiken increased its margin to 4-0 when Ashley Metts homered to lead off the sixth stanza.

Although the Patriots scored two runs in the seventh, India Kornegay struck out the last batter, completing the win.

For the game, Kornegay struck out 11 batters and gave up two runs on two hits. At the plate, Montei drove in a pair while Metts and White each had one RBI. Williamson guided the squad with two of the team's six base hits.

In the second game, the Pacers fell behind 3-0 after the top of the first and it stayed that way until the Patriots tacked on a fourth run in the fourth.

USC Aiken battled back, plating a run in its half of the fourth stanza when Samantha Chubb's single scored White, who had singled, stole second and moved to third on a groundout.

The Pacers pulled within one in the fifth, but could have easily taken the lead on FMU. In the frame, Magan Thrower walked and Makenzie Barbor, who came in as a pinch runner, scampered to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two down, White singled to third as Barbor took third. Each moved up on a passed ball, making it a 4-2 contest. Montei singled home White, pulling the home team within one at 4-3.

With Kornegay pitching in relief of Taylor Morgan, the visitors were unable to generate any more runs, despite loading the bags in the seventh. However, Kornegay struck out batters for the final two outs to give the Pacers one last chance.

In the bottom of the seventh, Williamson got things started with an infield single. With one down, White reached on a fielding error as USC Aiken had runners on first and second with the miscue.

Montei singled to right field and Sndyer sent Williamson, who beat the throw by a couple steps. White advance to third on the play, which proved critical as Chubb's sharply hit ball to third base allowed White to score the game-winning run.

For the contest, White and Montei had two hits apiece while Chubb, Metts and Williamson all had one. Montei drove in a pair and Chubb drove in one. White crossed home three times while Barbor and Williamson each scored once.

Morgan threw four innings and struck out four. Kornegay came in and picked up the win after striking out six in three innings without giving up a run.

Kornegay now has 999 career strikeouts and is aiming at becoming the third player in PBC history with 1,000 career strikeouts.      

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they host GRU Augusta in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available for the doubleheader.