AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team swept Limestone by scores of 8-0 and 4-1 to open the 2017 season Saturday afternoon.
The Pacers improve to 2-0 on the year while the preseason favorite in Conference Carolinas falls to 6-2 on the year.
Transfer
Hayley Elkins had a superb start to her career, giving up just one hit en route to the 8-0, five-inning victory in the opener.
Elkins gave up a walk to the second batter she faced, but was unscathed through the first frame.
Head coach
Jerry Snyder's team jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Brielle Jungblut started things off with a bunt single. She promptly stole second and
Sydney Kate Murphy drew a base on balls.
Hannah Price was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Elkins helped her own cause with a single to center field for a 1-0 edge. A passed ball allowed Murphy to cross home.
Chandler Terrapin singled, driving in Price. Terrapin stole second and a single by
Magan Thrower pushed the score to 4-0 as Elkins crossed home.
Courtney Strauss' groundout allowed Terrapin to score for a 5-0 advantage.
Julianne Leduc's single through the left side of the infield plated
Leah Boghosian, who came in as a pinch runner for Thrower.
Snyder's team added a run in the second when Thrower knocked a single to left field, scoring Price. The Pacers pushed the score to 8-0 when Murphy's base hit plated Leduc in the third.
Elkins gave up a one-out double in the fourth inning, but that was the lone hit of the game for the Saints.
For the game, Jungblut and Thrower each had two hits. Thrower drove in two runs while Price scored twice.
Elkins went the distance for the win. She struck out nine batters in the victory while walking just one.
Game two proved to be much tighter, but USC Aiken prevailed. The Saints had a chance to take the lead in the second, but Terrapin worked out of a bases loaded jam, striking out a batter for the final out.
Still scoreless in the third, Strauss led off the frame with a double to the gap in left center field. Boghosian got to first on a bunt single. She moved to second on a throwing error while Strauss scored on the play.
In the fourth, Elkins launched a 2-0 pitch for a double to left field. With one down, Thrower singled to put runners on the corners.
Kristan Lowery's sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in favor of the home team.
Limestone made it a 2-1 game with a run in the sixth, but USC Aiken quickly responded with a pair of runs.
With two down, Lowery slapped a single down the left field line, pushing Thrower to second base. Strauss' single loaded the bags. Murphy came in as a pinch hitter and delivered a base hit to center field for a 4-1 lead.
Terrapin gave up a hit in the seventh, but forced a groundout to
Sarah Timmerman for the last out.
In game two, Strauss had three hits while Thrower added two. Murphy drove in a pair of runs in the game.
Terrapin went the distance, striking out seven while giving up just four hits in the contest.
The Pacers return to action Friday when they travel to Belmont Abbey for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
