SALISUBRY, N.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost a pair of tightly contested games at Catawba Saturday by scores of 6-2 and 5-4.

The Pacers are now 6-10 on the season.

In the opener, Courtney Strauss led the way with three hits while Hannah Price accounted for the other base knock.

Trailing 6-0 in the fifth, Strauss roped a single to left with one away. Kristan Lowery walked, putting two on. Price drew a base on balls as did Lilly Shoaf, making it a 6-1 game. Lyndie Dorgan reached on an error, allowing Katelyn Powell to cross home for what turned out to be the final run of the game.

USC Aiken left two stranded in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.

In the nightcap, head coach Jerry Snyder's team took a 1-0 lead in the second frame. Sydney Kate Murphy singled, but was erased on a fielder's choice. Jessica Stanley's bunt single pushed Chandler Terrapin to second. Sarah Sams registered a base hit to right field, plating Terrapin.

After the Indians scored two in the third, the Pacers knotted the game in the sixth inning. Price reached on an error. Leah Boghosian came in as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a throwing error. Stanley singled to load the bags.

A pitching change allowed the home team to regroup. After a fielder's choice that eliminated the lead runner, Powell drew a walk to score Terrapin.

Catawba plated two runs in the bottom of the inning, but USC Aiken was resourceful. In the top of the seventh, Strauss laced a hit to center field. Dorgan walked to put two on. After back-to-back outs, Terrapin ripped a double to center field, scoring both Pacers while tying the contest at 4-4.

Despite the solid play, the home team managed to get a one-out hit with a runner in scoring position for the winning run.

In the game, Terrapin scored twice and drove in two while Stanley registered a pair of hits.

The Pacers return to action on Monday, March 5 when they play at Carson-Newman.