AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team earned a pair of victories over visiting Queens to open the season. The Pacers won the first game 2-1 before registering a 4-3 win in eight innings in the nightcap.

Head coach Jerry Snyder's team moves to 2-0 on the young season.

Junior hurler Taylor Morgan earned the start in the opener and was dominant throughout the game. She struck out two of the first three batters, retiring the Royals without allowing a run.

In the bottom half of the first, Sydney Murphy walked, moved to second on a bunt by Sarah Montei and promptly went to third. Samantha Chubb's deep fly ball to right field allowed Murphy to trot home for a 1-0 advantage.

Morgan continued her work in the circle as Chubb teamed up with Magan Thrower for a double play in the top of the second stanza. After retiring the side in the third inning, the visitors managed to knot the contest at 1-1 on an unearned run.

Although USC Aiken was unable to get anything going in the fourth or fifth innings, Murphy started the rally in the bottom of the sixth frame. She reached on a fielding error by the right fielder that allowed her to scamper to second base. Montei's well-executed sacrifice bunt put Murphy at third base with one down. After Chubb reached on a fielding error, Andrea Daring sent a shot deep to right field that allowed Murphy to race home for what turned out to be the game-winning run.

Morgan swiftly recorded three outs in the top of the seventh to earn the victory.

Montei and Ashley Metts recorded the only two hits for the Pacers in the win while Chubb and Daring each drove in Murphy.

In the circle, Morgan threw the complete game and struck out six in the victory.

After a scoreless first three innings in the second game of the doubleheader, the visitors managed to break through and score a pair of runs in the top of the fourth off hurler Danielle Payne.

Snyder's squad battled back, trimming the deficit to one. After Daring reached on an error, Lyndie Dorgan came in as a pinch runner. Ericka David came in as a pinch hitter and promptly got on base thanks in part to a fielding error that put runners on second and third. Makenzie Barbor's sacrifice bunt plated a run, making it 2-1.

The Royals scored a run in the top of the fifth, but USC Aiken fought back once again. In the bottom of the inning, Montei ripped a double to left field and moved to third on Chubb's fly ball. She came around to score on a wild pitch for a 3-2 game.

The Pacers tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Victoria Burkett reached on a throwing error and quickly hustled to second base. Morgan, who came in for Payne in the fifth, helped her own cause by singling home Burkett, tying the contest.

It looked as if Queens would take a lead in the top of the seventh. Taylor Cheek singled to center field and tested Montei, who put forth a tremendous throw right to home plate. Murphy caught the ball and had to wait for Robyn Levine to finish coming toward home before easily tagging her out.

In the top of the eighth, the Royals threatened to score, but with a runner on third base Morgan induced back-to-back grounders right to her for easy outs.

Thrower got things going in the eighth with a single through the left side. She moved to second on Barbor's sacrifice bunt before moving to third on Burkett's single to left field. Morgan ended the game with a deep sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Thrower to score.

Burkett and Metts each had two hits while Chubb, Montei, Morgan, Murphy and Thrower all had one. Morgan drove in a pair of runs in the win.

In the circle, Morgan picked up the win, throwing 3.2 innings of work. She struck out three and scattered three hits.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they host Newberry in a doubleheader slated to start at 3 p.m.