AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team picked up a pair of victories over Francis Marion in the Peach Belt Conference opener, winning by scores of 2-1 and 7-6.

The Pacers are now 11-3 overall and 2-0 against conference competition. The Patriots fall to 10-6 on the year and 0-2 against league foes.

After getting out of jam in the top of the first inning, head coach Jerry Snyder's team jumped on top in the third stanza in the opening game. Leah Boghosian singled to right field and scampered to second on Sarah Montei's sacrifice bunt. Brielle Jungblut laid down a sacrifice bunt, putting Boghosian on third with two down. Samantha Chubb roped a single through the left side for the RBI.

The Patriots managed to tie the game in the fifth, but Snyder's team was up to the test.

USC Aiken tried to get things going again in the bottom of the fifth. With two down, Montei beat out a single to the shortstop. Jungblut singled to center field, but the home team was unable to push across any runs.

FMU looked to take the lead in the sixth as an error put runners on the corners with two down. However, Taylor Morgan was sensational, getting Taylor Brunson to ground out to her for the final out of the inning.

The Pacers responded with a run in the bottom half of the frame. Hannah Price walked and Samantha Peka came in as a pinch runner. Sarah Timmerman beat out a bunt for a single, putting runners on first and second. Magan Thrower walked to load the bags. Back-to-back outs left the bases loaded as Sydney Murphy came in as a pinch hitter. She worked the count and was hit by a pitch, driving in what turned out to be the game-winning run.

The Patriots put a runner on base in the seventh and she went to second on a passed ball, but Morgan forced an out due to a sacrifice bunt. Then, Chubb was stellar at third base, snagging a line drive before fielding and throwing out a runner at first for the final out of the game.

For the game, Montei had a pair of hits. Morgan tossed a complete-game gem, striking out eight batters without allowing a walk. She gave up one earned run on five hits.

In the nightcap, Snyder's team jumped on top with a pair of runs in the first. Montei led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Chubb doubled home Montei for a 1-0 edge. Price ripped a single to center field, pushing the score to 2-0.

The visitors answered with three runs in the second inning, but USC Aiken regained the lead in its half of the stanza. Lilly Shoaf singled to third base and went to second on a throwing error. Chandler Terrapin singled to shortstop and each runner moved up when Boghosian beat out an infield bunt for a single.

With two down, Chubb singled to center field, plating Terrapin and Boghosian for a 4-3 edge.

FMU would tie the game in the fourth and it would remain deadlocked until the sixth inning.

After Morgan came in to relieve Terrapin, she was forced to lead off the inning in the batter's box. She promptly responded by belting a solo homer over the left center field fence for a 5-4 margin. Boghosian followed her up with a single and scored when Montei blasted a double to right center field. Two batters later, Chubb rocketed a single to the opposite field, allowing Montei score for a 7-4 margin.

USC Aiken gave up two runs in the seventh, but Morgan retired the last batter with her bat on her shoulder as the ball went straight through the strike zone for the strikeout.

For the game, Chubb went four-for-four with four RBI and scored a run. Montei had a pair of hits and scored twice. Boghosian also went two-for-three with a pair of runs scored.

In the circle, Morgan worked two innings of relief and struck out three en route to earning the victory.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Mount Olive at 2 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.