Coming off its best season in USC Aiken history in which it won a pair of games in the NCAA Tournament, the 2015 softball team had a young, but strong core return in place. The squad had to battle a slew of injuries, but it was good enough to nearly knock off NCAA National Champion North Georgia in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
Head coach Jerry Snyder's team wrapped up the season with a 22-17 record and finished in a three-way tie for sixth place in the league.
Due to some injuries at the start of the season, Snyder was forced to alter his line-up for the season – and put student-athletes at positions they did not normally play. However, the team came together and started off extremely strong – and in many times – won games in dramatic fashion.
In the season-opening doubleheader against Queens, the Pacers managed to plate a run in the bottom of the sixth while Taylor Morgan scattered four hits and did not give up an earned run in the 2-1 victory. Morgan was the hero in the second game, picking up the victory and driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Against Newberry, Magan Thrower's single to left field allowed Victoria Burkett to cross home, giving the team a walk-off victory.
The team was supposed to play in the Shaw Tournament, but it was cancelled due to the weather. Scrambling to find games, USC Aiken play NCAA Tournament foe Concord from the Atlantic Region and defeated the Mountain Lions 5-0 and 5-4.
On Feb. 22, the Pacers played their first two league games at Lander. Despite having an 8-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Bearcats scored six runs, forcing extra innings. Although Samantha Chubb's RBI was the eventual game-winning run, the contest was remembered for Ashley Metts tying a pair of single-game school records. Metts blasted two home runs and drove in seven runs, all of which occurred in the final two innings of play. The Pacers wrapped up the doubleheader with a 7-2 victory for the sweep while improving to 7-1 on the season.
The squad continued its winning ways, sweeping Pfeiffer by identical 3-0 scores. In the second game of the doubleheader, Danielle Payne worked her magic, giving up just two hits while improving to 5-0.
USC Aiken went on the road and squared off against perennial power Lenoir-Rhyne. After dropping the first game, the Pacers bounced back in the nightcap. Burkett's single up the middle plated Dani Reeves for the game-winning run in the 2-1 victory as Payne once again gave up just two hits in the contest.
Against Montevallo, Morgan tossed a gem, giving up just two hits while striking out 10 in the 2-0 victory. Burkett and Chubb each blasted solo homers for the only two runs of the game. The Pacers quickly fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first in the second game against the Falcons. Metts pulled the team within one in the bottom of the first with a two-run blast while Makenzie Barbor tied it in the bottom of the fifth with a double. Payne went on to toss all 11 innings as USC Aiken won when Reeves hit a single that scored Metts in the 4-3 win.
USC Aiken bounced back from a pair of losses to split with NCAA Tournament foe Carson-Newman as the win was powered by Andrea Daring's two-run blast. Daring hit another round-tripper in the second game of the doubleheader against the Eagles.
Returning home for six straight league games, Snyder's team needed to continue its early season success and did so, going 5-1 during the homestand.
The team swept powerhouse Columbus State by scores of 7-2 and 4-3. Daring homered in the opener but fell one game short of tying the PBC record for homers in consecutive games.
Trailing 1-0 against Georgia Southwestern, the Pacers rattled off multiple runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings and ended the game on the mercy rule when Daring smashed a three-run opposite field homer in the 11-3 win. Payne scattered four hits in the 1-0 shutout in the second game as Thrower belted a solo homer to left in the sixth for the 1-0 win.
The team split games against Flagler, Young Harris and Armstrong State before dropping four contests against North Georgia and Georgia College.
On Senior Day, Snyder's team honored Barbor, Burkett, Metts and Payne prior to the first game against West Georgia. The team started off in fine fashion, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first en route to a 10-1 five-inning victory. The final home game of the year showcased one of the best pitching performances in USC Aiken history as Morgan went the distance in the 11-inning, 1-0 win. She gave up just six hits, only one of which went for extra bases, while striking out 17 batters and walking none. Chubb ended the game with a solo shot to center field with one out in the 11th frame.
Although USC Aiken did not win another game, the team put a huge scare into top-seeded North Georgia in the PBC Tournament. Trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning, Metts launched a solo shot over the left field wall, but the Pacers eventually fell by a 2-1 count.
Chubb led the team in several offensive categories while Burkett had the best season of her four-year career. Metts battled injuries throughout the season but managed to post a pair of school records. Sarah Montei became a force at the plate to go along with her strong right arm that saw her throw out a pair of runners at the plate while holding several more runners at third.
Sydney Murphy tied for the team lead in doubles and led the team with nine sacrifice hits while playing multiple positions. Daring stepped up, blasting six homers on the season while having just four during her career heading into the 2015 campaign.
Ericka David was solid behind the plate while Barbor was thrust into the role at second base and responded well, especially during the PBC Tournament by making several outstanding plays.
Thrower led the team with 265 putouts and was a big reason for the team's early season success. Karly Kinard was used mainly as a pinch runner, but saw time in right field and was productive. She also notched a hit in her first collegiate at bat. Lyndie Dorgan saw time as a pinch runner but started six games. She also made three appearances as a pitcher.
In the circle, Morgan led the team with a 2.31 ERA and struck out a team-high 164 batters. Payne picked up a team-best 13 wins and held opponents to a .232 average.
Everyone contributed on the team and helped the young squad pick up 22 wins, including several over NCAA Tournament teams. The Pacers lose four student-athletes due to graduation and each made a valuable impact on this year's team and future squads. The 2015 USC Aiken softball team was one that played up to its level of competition and fought extremely hard day-in and day-out.
The 2015 team will be remembered as one that scrapped until the very end and never gave up. That in itself showcases what a true champion is.
