COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost a pair of PBC contests at Columbus State by scores of 5-2 and 8-6.

The Pacers are now 8-24 on the season, including 1-5 in league play.

In the opener, USC Aiken fell behind 2-0 after the first two frames, but head coach Jerry Snyder's team evened the contest in the fourth. With one down, Hannah Price roped a single to the right side on the 10^th pitch of the at bat. Katelyn Powell came in as a pinch runner and quickly hustled to second on a single from Chandler Terrapin. Deja Robinson came in as a pinch runner for Terrapin. Robinson and Powell each moved up a base on a wild pitch.

Sarah Sams bounced a pitch to second for a base hit, driving in Powell. Janee McCarthy knotted the contest on another infield single as Robinson scampered home.

The game would not stay tied for long as the Cougars managed to plate a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames for the 5-2 win.

For the game, Price and Terrapin registered two hits apiece. Brielle Jungblut garnered a base knock as well. McCarthy and Sams were each credited with one RBI each.

Snyder's squad fell behind 1-0 in the second game after the first inning, but quickly knotted the score in the team's next at bat.

Maci Hutto led off the frame with a single through the right side of the infield. Hanna Hyder laid down a sacrifice bunt prior to Jungblut singling to shortstop. With Hutto on third, Kristan Lowery laid down a bunt. Hutto hustled home with the score tied at 1-1.

CSU scored four in the third and three more in the fifth, making it 8-1. However, USC Aiken would continue add runs. In the sixth, Caroline Cockrell belted the first pitch of the inning into left field. However, she was erased on a fielder's choice. Leah Boghosian came in as a pinch runner and raced to third on Hutto's double. With two down, Jungblut came through with a single that scored two runs.

Trailing 8-3 in the seventh stanza, USC Aiken made it a close contest. With two down, Katelyn Powell singled to the pitcher. Cockrell drew a base on balls. Lyndie Dorgan came in as a pinch runner for Cockrell, but managed to trot around the bases when Terrapin registered a three-run homer. However, 8-6 was as close as the squad could come.

For the game, Hutto and Jungblut each had two hits. Terrapin drove in three while Jungblut added two RBI. Hutto crossed home plate twice.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they play a doubleheader at Claflin. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.