AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team swept a pair of games against No. 18 Lenoir-Rhyne Friday evening in a non-conference affair. The Pacers won the first game 3-2 in 10 innings before coming back to post a 6-3 win in the nightcap.

The Pacers improve to 18-6 on the season while the Bears fall to 17-5.

Senior Taylor Morgan put together one of the most dynamic performances in recent history for the Pacers. Facing the ever-tough Bears, Morgan did not allow a run through the first eight frames. During that time, she did not allow a runner past second base.

In the bottom of the sixth, head coach Jerry Snyder's team had a chance to take the lead. Brielle Jungblut tapped a pitch down the third base line that stopped between every defensive player. She raced to first for the infield single. Jungblut moved to second when Montei laid down a sacrifice bunt. A groundout to the pitcher allowed Jungblut to move to third base. However, Samantha Chubb sent a deep fly ball to center field that was caught for the final out of the stanza.

Scoreless through seven innings, each team managed to get a runner on base in the eighth. Neither was able to push across a run.

In the ninth, a double to the corner in right field allowed a run to score. USC Aiken, however, would battle back.

With one down in the ninth, Chubb singled to right field. She was erased when Hannah Price reached on a fielder's choice. Samantha Peka came in as a pinch runner for Price and moved to second when Magan Thrower was hit by a pitch.

Helping her own cause, Morgan ripped the ball over the outstretched glove of the first baseman. The ball nipped the glove and trickled into foul territory, but it was positioned well enough for Peka to tie the game and move to the 10^th inning.

The Bears added a run on a sacrifice fly in the 10^th, but once again the Pacers fought back.

With one down, Jungblut slapped her way to another infield single and moved to second on Sarah Montei's single to third base. Murphy laced a shot into left center field to load the bases. After a pitching change, Chubb blasted a shot into the right center field gap, plating Jungblut and Montei for the game-winner.

For the game, Chubb led everyone with two hits and two RBI. Morgan had a pair of hits and drove in one. She also tossed a complete game, striking out eight while giving up two runs on eight hits. She did not walk a batter in the win.

In the second game, Snyder's team took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Montei poked a single to center field, plating Chandler Terrapin, who had earned a base on balls.

After giving up three runs in the top of the third, the Pacers battled back in the fourth.

Terrapin, who was pitching, helped her own cause by reaching first on a single. She moved to second on Julianne Leduc's sacrifice bunt. With one away, Andrea Daring singled to right to put runner's on the corners. Jungblut's single loaded the bases.

Taylor Allen came in as a pinch runner for Daring. Montei lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Terrapin to score. Trailing 3-2, Murphy belted a ball that was left over the middle of the plate for a three-run round-tripper over the left center field fence for a 5-3 margin.

Chubb was hit by a pitch and promptly swiped second base. A single by Price allowed Chubb to score for a 6-3 lead.

From that point forward, Terrapin shut down the opposition. She allowed just two runners on base over the final three innings and neither reached second base as USC Aiken closed out the win.

For the game, Terrapin threw a complete game, striking out five while walking just two. Montei had a pair of hits and drove in two while Murphy's big three-run homer provided most of the fireworks.  

The Pacers return to action Sunday when they travel to Montevallo for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.