JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a doubleheader at Carson-Newman, winning the first game 4-2 before falling by a 10-4 score in the second contest.

The Pacers are now 13-5 on the season while the Eagles are 22-8.

In the opener, head coach Jerry Snyder's team found itself trailing by a 1-0 count on an unearned run in the bottom of the second. The home squad tacked on another run in the third on a solo homer for a 2-0 edge.

In the top of the fifth, USC Aiken trimmed the score to 2-1. Magan Thrower led the stanza off and was hit by a pitch. Andrea Daring singled through the left side, pushing Lyndie Dorgan, who had come in as a pinch runner, to second.

With one down, Sydney Murphy beat out a shot hit to shortstop, loading the bags. Sarah Montei drew a bases-loaded walk for the team's first run of the game.

Taylor Morgan kept the Eagles at bay despite allowing two runners on in the bottom of the inning. After being retired in order in the top of the sixth, the Pacers needed a seventh-inning rally.

Thrower led off with an opposite-field double. Daring stepped to the plate and smashed a two-run homer, giving USC Aiken a 3-2 lead.

Makenzie Barbor singled to left and after a pitching change, Murphy laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt that allowed Barbor to scamper to second. After Montei walked, Chubb belted another hit up the middle, plating Barbor for a 4-2 advantage.

Morgan allowed a pair of hits in the bottom half of the frame, but struck out Danielle Kranz for the victory.

For the game, Daring had two hits, drove in two and scored once. Chubb added two base knocks and one RBI. Barbor, Ashley Metts, Montei, Murphy and Thrower all had one hit apiece.

Morgan tossed a complete game and struck out nine en route to the 4-2 win. She allowed nine hits and just one earned run.

In the nightcap, Montei singled with one out in the top of the first and quicky moved to second on a wild pitch. Chubb's single to left center field plated Montei, giving the team a 1-0 lead.

Although the Eagles scored a run in the second and another in the third, Snyder's team fought back, tallying a pair of runs in the fourth. Victoria Burkett singled before Thrower belted a two-run homer on a 1-0 pitch, giving the Pacers a 3-2 working margin.

However, Carson-Newman scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth and three in the fifth, making it a 10-3 contest.

USC Aiken got on the board in the seventh when Daring lifted the first pitch she saw over the left field wall, putting the final score at 10-4.

For the game, Daring and Montei had two hits apiece. Thrower had a pair of RBI while Chubb and Daring each had one. Victoria Burkett, Daring, Montei and Thrower each scored one run.

Danielle Payne took the loss, throwing five innings for the Pacers. Lyndie Dorgan threw a scoreless sixth inning, striking out two while giving up just one hit.

The Pacers return to action Friday when they host Columbus State in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.