AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost a pair of games to No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne by scores of 8-3 and 9-0.

The Pacers are now 8-20 on the season while the nationally-ranked Bears improve to 23-4.

In the opener, head coach Jerry Snyder's team was paced by rookie Jessica Stanley's two extra-base hits. She drove in all three runs via her first career round-tripper. Sydney Kate Murphy registered a pair of hits. Leah Boghosian, Brielle Jungblut and Courtney Strauss all picked up base knocks in the contest.

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the second, Murphy led off the stanza with a single through the left side of the infield. Courtney Strauss beat out a bunt, putting runners on first and second base. Sarah Sams laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt, putting the dyad on second and third.

With two out, Stanley walked up to the plate and promptly smashed a three-run shot over the right field fence despite the wind gushing toward home plate.

The Bears managed to plate a run in the fourth for what turned out to be the game-winner. 

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Stanley ripped a double to the gap in right center field. With one away, Jungblut put down a sacrifice bunt, pushing Stanley to third. However, a deep fly ball on the next pitch ended the threat.

L-R managed to tack on three runs in the sixth. Snyder's team tried to battle back, but managed only one runner in each of the next two frames.

In the nightcap, the Bears managed to plate a run in the second and three in the third. It was not until the fourth stanza that USC Aiken managed to get a hit. In the frame, Murphy singled to right field. However, she was left stranded.

L-R added two runs in the fifth for a 6-0 edge. The visitors added three runs in the sixth for the 9-0 win.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they play at Mount Olive at 2 p.m.