AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team posted a sweep of Francis Marion Wednesday afternoon by scores of 4-3 and 7-5.
The Pacers are now 3-9 on the year and 3-7 in league play. The Patriots fall to 8-10 overall and 4-2 in the PBC.
Jessica Stanley led off the first with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Brianna Dow.
Faith Cooke doubled her home for a 1-0 edge. On the ensuing pitch,
Emily Ayers crushed a two-run homer over the center field fence for a 3-0 advantage.
The score remained the same until the Patriots knotted the score in the top of the third with three unearned runs.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team regained the advantage in the third. Dow started things off with a single. With one down, she moved to second on a wild pitch. With two away,
Katelyn Powell ripped a double down the left field line, driving in Dow for what turned out to be the game-winning run.
In the seventh, FMU had a runner on base with one away, but
Caroline Cockrell forced a fly ball out before striking out the final batter to secure the victory.
For the game, Ayers drove in two runs to lead everyone, Cockrell worked a complete game, striking out seven to secure the win. She gave up three unearned runs on a pair of hits.
In game two, Stanley led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Dow. Ayers singled, pushing Stanley to third. Powell singled to right field, plating both runners for the 2-0 margin.
The Patriots cut the margin to one in the second inning and took a 4-2 lead after plating three runs in the fifth.
USC Aiken answered with a three-run half inning of its own. Ayers reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a wild pitch. Powell singled to left field, pushing Ayers to third.
Brooke Moore reached on a fielder's choice and an error allowed both runners to score.
Maci Hutto launched a double off the top of the fence, allowing Moore to score to make it 5-4.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth, Moore ripped the first pitch she saw back up the middle, driving in Stanley and Dow while pushing the score to 7-4.
The Patriots plated a run in the seventh, but it was not enough.
For the game, Stanley led the way with three hits. Ayers, Powell and Moore had two hits apiece. Powell and Moore each drove in two. Stanley and Ayers each crossed home twice.
Rebekah Cook threw a complete game, picking up the win with two strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action Saturday when they travel to Augusta for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
