YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a pair of games against Young Harris Friday, falling 9-3 in the first one before winning 2-1 in eight innings in the nightcap.

The Pacers are now 19-7 on the season and 10-4 against league foes.

Head coach Jerry Snyder's team fell behind in the opener 2-0 after the first inning, but countered with a run in the top of the second.

Ashley Metts led off the frame with a double to right center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Victoria Burkett. Metts trotted home when Andrea Daring smashed a double up the middle, making it 2-1.

The Mountain Lions added to runs in the third inning, but USC Aiken cut the deficit to two in the top of the fourth after plating a run.

Metts got things going once again as she legged out her first triple as a member of USC Aiken's team. Two batters later, Daring belted a single into right field making it 4-2. However, a double play ended the threat.

Young Harris broke the game open with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. However, the Pacers continued to battle in the seventh inning. Daring led off with a double to right center field and came home when Taylor Morgan ripped a double into the gap in left field. USC Aiken was unable score any more in the contest.

For the game, Daring led the team with three hits and drove in two runs. She also scored once. Metts had a pair of hits and scored twice while Sydney Murphy added two hits, including a double. Morgan and Sarah Montei accounted for the other hits in the game.

In the circle, Morgan went the distance and struck out five batters while walking just one.

USC Aiken got back on track in the second game. Although there was no score through the first four innings, Snyder's squad broke through in the fifth.

Burkett ripped a single through the left side and moved to second when Danielle Payne laid down a sacrifice bunt. Magan Thrower laced a single to left field, plating Burkett for a 1-0 edge.

Payne was dominant in the circle through the first six innings, but the Mountain Lions were able to extend the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Despite narrowly missing out on a victory in the bottom of the seventh, USC Aiken managed to get the run back in the top of the eighth.

Murphy blasted a double to center field and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher, who was trying to get Montei out after she put down a sacrifice bunt.

In the bottom of the inning, Payne retired the side in order, preserving the 2-1 win.

For the game, Payne struck out four batters and gave up just four hits without surrendering an earned run.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they host Armstrong State in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.