AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost a pair of games to Columbus State Friday evening by scores of 1-0 and 7-1.
The Pacers are now 13-13 on the season while the Cougars improve to 19-8.
In game one, USC Aiken had a runner on in each of the first two frames, but was unable to push across a run. In the fourth,
Hannah Price drew a walk on a nine-pitch at bat with one down. However, back-to-back strikeouts allowed the Cougars to get out of the inning.
Sarah Sams drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Maci Hutto, but a groundout ended the frame.
The Cougars managed to score a run in the seventh off an error for a 1-0 lead. USC Aiken was unable to get a runner on in the team's last at bat.
For the game, Price recorded seven strikeouts and walked just one.
In game two, CSU jumped on top with a three-run first inning thanks in part to a two-run homer. The visitors plated two more runs in the third.
In the bottom half of the third,
Leah Boghosian pounded out a single to left field, giving the Pacers their first hit of the game.
Katelyn Powell singled in the fourth and
Kathleen St. Peter both reached base, but a fielder's choice ended the frame. Boghosian and
Deja Robinson got on in the fifth, but the squad was unable to push them across home plate.
The sixth started off well for head coach
Jerry Snyder's team as Price rocketed a double to left, but three straight outs ended the stanza.
With one down in the seventh, Boghosian ripped an opposite field triple before trotting home on Robinson's double to left center field to make it 7-1.
The Pacers return to action Sunday when they travel to Georgia College for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.