Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C. - The No. 24 USC Aiken softball team split their non-conference double header with the Tornados of Brevard College. Brevard took the first game narrowly at 6-7 while the Pacers were able to take the second game with a commanding score of 5-1.
The split moves the Pacers to 11-5 on the regular season while the Tornados move to 5-7.
Earlier in the day the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released the first Division II national poll of the 2010 regular season to reveal the Pacers had dropped to 24th from 13th. Two other
Peach Belt schools are featured in the latest top 25 poll including PBC rival North Georgia (13-0) who eclipsed pre-season No.1 Alabama-Hunstville for the top spot.
Lauren Locklear (Charleston, S.C./Wando) led the Pacers in the first game going 3-for-4 at the dish with one home run and three RBIs.
Whitney Clary (Newberry, S.C./Newberry HS) also helped going 1-for-2 with two runs of her own.
The Pacers took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Locklear hit a double to over the Brevard centerfield's head to score Clary. Clary reached base when she was walked by the Brevard pitcher.
The Tornados swept back into the lead with two three-score innings in the top of the third and fourth innings to put the score at 1-6. Jennifer Gift and Chelsi Mallory hit a home run each to help lift the
Tornados ahead of the Pacers while Nicole Heusel added a double of her own.
The Pacers were able to answer back and gain a little ground back on Brevard with back-to-back home run jacks of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. Both Locklear and
Toni Flessate (Goose Creek, S.C./Stratford) sent balls out of the park well over the left field fence to put the score back within reach at 3-6.
The two home runs by the Pacers' veteran sluggers helped to begin a Pacer uprising that continued over into the fifth inning. Freshman
Lindsey Jones (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) scored when
Locklear continued her hitting streak with a strike up the middle to center field.
Locklear was thrown out when Clary reached base safely on a fielder's choice. Clary found her way to third base and then scored off a sacrifice fly by Flessate to right field to put USC Aiken within one at 5-6.
Brevard did their best to put the game away in the bottom of the sixth. Leslie Hylton came in to pinch run for Heusel and promptly scored off a hit up the middle by Mallory to extend the Tornado lead to 5-7.
The Pacers would not go quietly, as in the bottom of the sixth inning the Pacers would close within one run once more.
Kelley King (Chesterfield, S.C./Chesterfield) went into the game to pinch hit for
Blair Warren (Darlington, S.C./Florence-Darlington Tech) and scored when Jones hit a hard ball between the legs of the Brevard second baseman.
USC Aiken was able to load the bases for the stout Locklear, but she was shutdown at the plate.
Brevard was able to hold on in the last inning to secure the one point win. They were led at the plate by Kristina Clayton and Mallory who both went 2-for-3 with one run a piece.
???????Martika Elmore secured the win for Brevard fanning seven batters. She improves to 3-4 on the 2010 campaign.
Lauren Rickabaugh (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) suffered the loss in the circle for the Pacers. She drops to 6-2 on the 2010 season.
The Pacers were able to avenge themselves in the second game by coming back to best the Tornados 5-1. Jones led USC Aiken in the second game going 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI.
Both teams were able to put themselves on the board early in the first inning. Clary scored first for the Pacers after arriving safely on base due to a fielder's choice.
Clary then scored when Locklear singled to the right fielder who muffed the ball allowing Locklear to safely arrive at third base evening the score at 1-1.
The Pacers would then score again in the bottom of the fourth after King reached base due to an error by the Brevard second baseman. Niki Sidaway (Wiley Ford, Va./Potomac State) then laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance King to second.
Freshman backstop
Nicole Borden (Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles School) then stepped up big for the Pacers at the dish with a double to center field. King scored from third to put USC Aiken up 2-1 while Sidaway advanced to third.
???????Sidaway scored just a few moments later when junior first baseman Warren sent a sacrifice fly to deep right field with Borden advancing to third. Freshmen then scored Borden off a single to center field putting the Pacers up 4-1.
USC Aiken scored for the final time in the bottom of the next inning when Flessate crossed the dish. Freshman
Haley Justice (North Augusta, S.C./Midland Valley) hit a strike to center field to score Flessate and seal the deal for the Pacers.
Jennifer Gift took the loss for the Tornados. She drops to 1-1 on the season.
Senior double threat Flessate took the win for USC Aiken fanning seven batters and giving up just four hits. She improves to 5-1 for the 2010 campaign.
???????The Pacers will next host the Falcons of region foe Pfeiffer (8-8) for a non-conference twinbill at J.H. Satcher Field Saturday, Mar. 6. The first pitch of the first game is scheduled to be thrown from the circle at 2 p.m. with the second game to follow at around 4 p.m.
