Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C.--Samantha Blair pitched her first collegiate shutout as the USC Aiken softball team defeated West Liberty State College (W.V.) 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader today at Pacer Park on the USC Aiken campus. The Lady Hilltoppers rallied in the sixth inning of game two and won the nightcap, 5-4. USCA moves to 11-10 on the season while WLSC improves to 6-4 overall.

Blair allowed just three hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out four batters. The freshman improves to a team best 5-3 in 2004. 

The Lady Pacers gave Blair all the support she would need in the bottom of the third inning. Meghan Lynch led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second base and moved to third on a ground out. Jami Cornwell's infield single scored Lynch and put USC Aiken in front 1-0.

Back-to-back doubles in the fourth by Jayme Durand and Sarah Harvey produced the second run of the game for USCA. Durand finished two-for-three while Harvey and Cornwell each had one hit in three at bats and one RBI.

Carrie Swinderman pitched well for West Liberty. The sophomore scattered six hits over six innings, didn't walk a batter and struck out four.

The Lady Hilltoppers plated a run in the top of the first inning of game two and held the lead until the fifth. With two outs, Tiffany Martin singled and advanced to third on a USCA error. Courtney Allar's RBI single gave WLSC the early lead.

USC Aiken didn't record its first hit until the fifth inning when Ragen Reeves led off with a base knock. After Reeves was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice, Ashley Dyches tripled to right center to tie the game. Dyches would cross home plate when West Liberty's catcher threw the ball into center field attempting to throw out Kelly Ford stealing second base.

WLSC tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on Allar's RBI single into right field. The Lady Hilltoppers scored three more in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. An RBI single by Carla Krieg and a two run double by Martin accounted for the three runs.

USC Aiken's seventh inning rally came up short. The Lady Pacers scored on another West Liberty error and Katie Hair's ground out plated Ford to cut the deficit to 5-4. Lynch, however, struck out looking to end the rally and the game.

Ford finished two-for-three with a run scored for USCA. Martin went two-for-four with two runs scored and two RBIs for WLSC. 

Stacey Spilker picked up the win for the Lady Hilltoppers. The senior allowed five hits, one walk and struck out three batters over seven innings. She gave up four runs but only one was earned.

The Lady Pacers will return to action on Tuesday when they host Mars Hill College at Pacer Park on the USC Aiken campus, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Game 1 
West Liberty ...000 000 0 - 0 3 0
USC Aiken .......001 100 x - 2 6 1

Game One Boxscore


Game 2
West Liberty ......100 001 3 - 5 9 3
USC Aiken .........000 020 0 - 4 5 3