AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team registered a sweep of Columbus State Friday evening by scores of 7-2 and 4-3.

The Pacers are now 15-5 on the season and improve to 6-2 against league competition.

Head coach Jerry Snyder's team trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth frame in the opener. However, the squad put together a six-run frame in their at bat before tacking on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the fifth, Mackenzie Barbor notched a one-out single to left field. With two down, Sarah Montei drew her third walk of the contest. Samantha Chubb watched the Cougars' hurler throw four balls, loading the bags. Ashley Metts forced another walk, which drove in Barbor for a 2-1 contest.

After a pitching change, Victoria Burkett chopped one back to the pitcher. What should have been an inning-ending ground ball turned out to be a throwing error that sailed into the dugout. That allowed Montei and Chubb to each cross home for a 3-2 lead. Andrea Daring walked to the plate and quickly launched a three-run round-tripper over the left center field fence for a 6-2 advantage.

USC Aiken went back to work after a quick defensive effort in the top of the sixth. Taylor Morgan sliced a single into left field but was erased when Barbor reached on a fielder's choice. Murphy and Montei each walked just before Chubb launched a deep fly ball to right center field. Although it was an out, the ball was deep enough for Barbor to score for a 7-2 margin.

For the game, Morgan went the distance in the circle. She struck out five batters. Morgan surrendered two runs on five hits, but only one run was earned.  

For the game, Metts recorded a pair of hits while Daring, Barbor and Morgan all had one hit apiece. Daring notched a game-high three RBI while Metts and Chubb each had one.

Montei ended up tying the school record for walks with four. It marked jus the fourth time in the program's history that a student-athlete had been walked four times in a single contest.

In the nightcap, Snyder's squad jumped out on top with a run in the bottom of the first when Sydney Murphy smashed her first career homer for a 1-0 edge.

The Cougars tied the contest in the top of the third, but the Pacers battled back.

In the bottom of the third, Murphy singled through the left side and scampered to second when Montei laid down a bunt for a single. Chubb reached on a fielder's choice, but it erased Montei at second base. With runners on the corners, Chubb took off for second base. Murphy managed two swipe home on the double steal, giving USC Aiken a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Daring led off the frame with a walk. With two down, Barbor reached on a fielding error. She moved to second on the throw and Daring ended up on third. Murphy came through with a clutch hit through the left side of the infield and moved to second on the throw. Her hit allowed Barbor and Daring to score for the three-run lead.

Columbus State looked as if it would claw back into the game in the sixth, but an outstanding play by the Pacers thwarted a rally. With one down, Rachel Rhodes singled into left center field. Burkett raced over, scooped it up and fired the ball back into the infield. With Rhodes looking to move to second, she started to go back to first. However, Barbor took the relay throw and fired it to Thrower for the second out of the stanza.

With a runner on first base, Katie White hit a bloop fly ball heading into right field. Barbor turned her back toward the plate, raced back and caught the ball over the shoulder for the final out of the inning.  

The Cougars tried to rally in the seventh. With one down, the visitors drew back-to-back walks before a single loaded the bases. Another walk forced in a run and a sacrifice fly made it 4-3. However, Payne managed to force a fly ball to end the contest.  

For the game, Murphy registered three hits and had three RBI. She also scored twice. Burkett and Montei each had hits while Daring and Barbor scored runs.

Payne went the distance for the victory. She gave up three runs on eight hits while striking out four batters.

The Pacers return to action Sunday when they host Georgia Southwestern for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.