Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team celebrated Senior Day in fine style, sweeping West Georgia by scores of 10-1 in five innings and 1-0 in an 11-inning marathon.
The Pacers improve to 22-12 on the season.
In the opener, head coach Jerry Snyder's team pounded out 10 runs on 12 hits without committing an error. Victoria Burkett, Samantha Chubb, Ashley Metts, Sarah Montei and Sydney Murphy all had two hits apiece while Makenzie Barbor and Danielle Payne each accounted for a hit.
Chubb, Montei and Payne had two RBI each while Barbor, Burkett, Metts and Magan Thrower chipped in one RBI apiece. Chubb, Andrea Daring, Metts and Montei each scored twice while Burkett and Murphy each crossed home once in the win.
In the circle, Payne tossed four innings of four-hit ball. She struck out two and walked just one. Lyndie Drogan retired the side in order as the Pacers ended the game after the fifth due to the mercy rule.
In the opening inning, USC Aiken broke open the game with six runs on six hits. Burkett led off the stanza with a single to left. Montei jacked a two-run homer over the left-center field fence. Chubb followed her up with a round-tripper that bounced off the top of the center field wall before exiting the ball park for a 3-0 lead.
Metts singled before the Wolves changed pitchers. Murphy took on the challenge of the new pitcher and blasted a single to left. After Daring walked, Thrower's groundout pushed another run across home plate.
Payne reached on a fielder's choice, but Murphy crossed home for a 5-0 edge. With two down, Burkett roped a single into the outfield, plating Daring for the 6-0 advantage.
West Georgia threatened in the third after scoring one run, but Payne induced a grounder to end the inning.
Snyder's team got the run back rather quickly. Daring led off the third with a walk before moving to second on Thrower's well-executed sacrifice bunt. Payne's grounder pushed Daring to third before Barbor drove her home with a single, making it 7-1.
The Pacers' bats went to work again in the fourth. Montei led off the frame with a single before swiping second. Chubb laced a shot down the right field line for a triple, allowing Montei to score. Metts followed her up with a single for the RBI.
With two down, Payne singled in Metts for the 10-1 margin. Dorgan made quick work of the Wolves, retiring the side in order, closing out the win.
The nightcap turned out to be a completely different contest.
Taylor Morgan nearly tied the school record, but turned in a masterful performance. She struck out 17 batters without walking anyone in the 11-inning victory. She gave up just six hits in the contest.
USC Aiken was limited to just eight hits in the game. Chubb, Ericka David and Metts each had two while Burkett and Murphy had one apiece.
With two down in the top of the first, Chubb and Metts put together back-to-back singles, but a groundout ended the threat. It marked the last time the Pacers would get on base until the sixth inning.
With one away, Burkett ripped a shot off the pitcher's glove that bounced away for a single. Montei nearly put the team up 2-0, but her hard-hit ball was two feet shy of the fence in center field. Burkett swiped second, but USC Aiken was unable to capitalize.
In the ninth, Metts singled down the right field line with two outs before going to third on Murphy's single. However, a groundout ended the team's chance of scoring.
David posted a single in the 10th, but the squad could not push her around for the game-winner.
The Wolves threatened in the 11th after getting a runner on second base with two outs, but Morgan forced a grounder to Metts, who fired the ball to Daring for the final out of the inning.
With one down in the 11th, Chubb sent a shot to straight-away center field for the game-winning homer.
It marked the final home game for Makenzie Barbor, Victoria Burkett, Ashley Metts and Danielle Payne.
The Pacers return to action Friday when they travel to UNC Pembroke for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Live stats and video are available at PacerSports.com.
