ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a pair of games at Claflin Wednesday evening, falling 9-8 before winning 5-0.
The Pacers are now 9-25 on the season.
In the opener, head coach
Jerry Snyder's team jumped on top with a run.
Jessica Stanley led the game off with a single through the left side. After moving to second on a groundout, Stanley scampered home on a single by
Hannah Price.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the second frame,
Deja Robinson was hit by a pitch. She quickly stole second and raced home on a
Lyndie Dorgan double to left. With the score tied and one down,
Brielle Jungblut singled and moved to second on a throwing error while Dorgan took third. Stanley roped a single to left field, scoring Dorgan and Jungblut for a 4-2 edge. After a Kateyln Powell single, Price doubled home Powell for a 5-2 margin.
In the fifth, USC Aiken pushed the score to 8-2. With one down,
Chandler Terrapin drew a walk and hustled to third on a double from
Sydney Kate Murphy. Robinson reached on a fielder's choice as Terrapin scored.
A throwing error allowed
Kristan Lowery, who came in for Terrapin as a pinch runner, and Robinson to move up a base.
Courtney Strauss blasted a pay-off pitch into center field, plating Lowery and Robinson for a six-run lead.
Despite taking the lead, the Panthers managed to score two runs in the fifth and five in the sixth for a 9-8 advantage.
Snyder's team bounced back and had a chance to take the lead in the seventh. With two down,
Hanna Hyder drew a walk. Jungblut worked the count full before earning a base on balls. Stanley followed suit, loading the bases. However, a pop fly ended the game.
For the contest, Price led the way with three hits and two RBI. Jungblut and Stanley had two hits apiece. Stanley and Strauss each drove in two in the loss.
In the nightcap, USC Aiken got on the board in the second stanza. With two down, Strauss singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lowery. Powell doubled her home for the one-run advantage.
The Pacers pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth. Terrapin walked and hustled to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Maci Hutto. Strauss singled through the left side of the field, pushing Terrapin to third base.
On a passed ball, Terrapin scored for a 2-0 margin. A groundout by Lowery pushed Strauss across home plate for the 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, Stanley tripled to center field and crossed home on a double by Price. A passed ball allowed her to move to third before she scored on a fielding error.
Price worked the complete game. She struck out four and gave up five hits without allowing a run for the win. At the plate, Price and Strauss had two hits apiece. Lowery, Powell and Price recorded one RBI each. Strauss crossed home twice.
The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Young Harris at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
