AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team picked up a pair of wins over visiting Claflin Saturday afternoon in non-conference action. Game scores were 5-0 and 3-2.

The Pacers improve to 4-0 on the season while the Panthers fall to 0-6.

Taylor Morgan threw a complete-game shutout in the opener. She was dominant throughout, striking out 11 while walking just a pair of Panthers while improving to 2-0 on the season.

At the plate, USC Aiken's Samantha Chubb and Sarah Montei registered two hits apiece while rookie Hannah Price blasted her first career homer, a three-run affair in the fifth inning.

Montei drove in a run and scored twice. Leah Boghosian, Chubb and Price all crossed home once.

In the bottom of the first, Boghosian started things off with a single. Montei was hit by a pitch and moved to second as Boghosian was picked off going to third. With two outs, Montei swiped third and promptly scored when Price reached on a fielding error for a 1-0 lead.

Head coach Jerry Snyder's team extended its advantage to 2-0 in the third. Boghosian reached on a fielding error and swiped second. After moving to third on a wild pitch, she scored when Montei smacked a triple down the left field line.

With Morgan shutting down the opposition, Snyder's team maintained its two-run lead. In the fifth, Montei singled through the left side of the infield with two down. Chubb poked a single, moving Montei up 60 feet. Price drilled a three-run homer to straight-away center field for a 5-0 lead.

Morgan cruised to the win, retiring the final four batters she faced, including two via strikeouts.

In the nightcap, USC Aiken was forced to rally. After trailing 1-0 due to an unearned run in the top of the first, Snyder's team struggled to convert early opportunities.

Boghosian singled to lead off the first and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scampered to third on a fly ball, but was stranded 60 feet away from tying the game.

Chandler Terrapin, making her debut, seemed to overcome the early run and starting caging the Panthers over the next few innings. Despite putting runners on base, USC Aiken was unable to capitalize through the first four frames.

In the fifth, Samantha Peka registered her first career hit. Brielle Jungblut beat out a bunt to the pitcher, putting runners on first and second. Boghosian reached first on a throwing error that trickled down the right field line. She moved to second while Peka and Jungblut ended up scoring for a 2-1 lead. With one down, Chubb singled to shortstop to put runners on the corners. Price sent a deep fly ball into the outfield, plating Boghosian for what turned out to be the game-winning run.

The Panthers scored an unearned run in the sixth, but Terrapin shut down the threat and calmly retired the side in the seventh for her first win of the year. For the game, Terrapin struck out six and walked two. She gave up two runs on three hits, but both runs were unearned.

At the plate, Boghosian, Chubb, Jungblut and Peka registered hits.

The Pacers return to action Thursday, Feb. 18, when they play a doubleheader at Coker. The contest was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14, but was pushed back a few days.