AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a doubleheader with Newberry Tuesday afternoon, falling 6-3 in the opener before winning 6-5 in walk-off fashion in the nightcap.

The Pacers improve to 3-1 on the young season.

Head coach Jerry Snyder's team fell behind 1-0 in the second inning of the opener, but bounced back.

In the bottom of the third stanza, Taylor Morgan singled to third base and advanced to second when Ericka David walked. A walk to Sarah Montei loaded the bases. The Wolves' hurler walked Samantha Chubb and Andrea Daring, making it a 2-1 contest.

USC Aiken increased the lead to 3-1 with a run in the fourth stanza. Makenzie Barbor walked and moved to third when Victoria Burkett reached on a throwing error. With one down, David's sacrifice bunt allowed Barbor to race home for the two-run edge.

Newberry cut the deficit to one with an unearned run in the fifth. In the sixth, the Wolves tied it with a lead-off homer and after a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh, the visitors opened a 6-3 lead with another round-tripper.

USC Aiken battled back and Sydney Murphy led off the seventh with a double to center field. A fielding error put two on with one down. However, the Pacers were unable to push across the tying runs.

Taylor Morgan took the loss, giving up six runs on 12 hits. However, only four runs were earned. She also struck out nine in the game. USC Aiken managed to tally jus three hits in the contest.

The Pacers scratched a run across in the bottom of the first in the nightcap. Murphy singled to second base and moved to second on Montei's sacrifice bunt. A double by Chubb plated her for a 1-0 advantage. Newberry tied it in the top of the second, but Snyder's team quickly countered.

Thrower led off the second with a single and Dani Reeves quickly replaced her as a pinch runner. Barbor's sacrifice allowed Reeves to scamper to second. Danielle Payne singled home Reeves for a 2-1 lead. Murphy singled to third and Montei's single loaded the bags.

Chubb singled home Payne prior to Murphy scoring on a wild pitch. Andrea Daring capped off the four-run second inning with a single to center field, allowing Montei to score.

USC Aiken held a 5-1 lead until the fourth. The Wolves scored one in the fourth and three in the fifth, knotting the contest at 5-5.

Newberry threatened in the top of the seventh, but Payne managed to force back-to-back grounders, ending the inning.

With one down in the bottom of the seventh, Burkett beat out an infield single. After a pop fly, Burkett raced to second on a wild pitch. Thrower ripped a single to left, scoring the game-winning run as Burkett was going on contact.

For the game, Payne gave up five runs on seven hits, but only four runs were earned. She struck out five.

Murphy led the charge with three hits. She scored two runs. Chubb went two-for-four with two RBI while Thrower posted a pair of hits. Payne had one hit, one RBI and scored once en route to earning her first victory of the season.

The Pacers return to action Thursday when they travel to Lander in the PBC opener. The doubleheader is slated to start at 4 p.m.