AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a pair of games with UNC Pembroke, winning 8-6 before falling 3-2 in eight innings.
The Pacers are now 5-3 on the season.
Brianna Dow led the team in the opener with three RBI.
Emily Ayers and
Mallory Shaver had two RBI apiece.
Shircoria Bosket,
Jena Dewalt and Dow had two hits apiece while Bosket scored three times and Dewalt crossed home twice.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first when Ayers blasted a two-run homer over the right center field fence. Dewalt scored on the play.
In the second, Dow's single up the middle plated Bosket for a 3-0 edge.
Tied at 3-3 in the fourth, Dewalt's base knock scored Bosket for a 4-3 margin. Poole's team added to the lead in the fourth when Dow belted a two-run homer that scored Dewalt. Up 6-5, Shaver came in as a pinch hitter and delivered a two-run double, giving the team an 8-5 advantage.
Payton Baker tossed a complete game, registering three strikeouts to pick up the win.
In game two, Poole's team trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth. However, senior
Brooke Moore got ahold of a pitch and quickly tied it with a two-run homer over the center field fence. The round-tripper traveled over 250 feet. Dewalt scored on the play.
As neither team scored in the seventh inning, the Braves managed to take a 3-2 lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly.
USC Aiken had a chance to tie or win in the bottom of the eighth. Dewalt led off the frame with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Dow. With two down, Moore drew a walk to put the winning run on first. However, the home team could not push across the equalizer.
For the game, Dewalt and Moore had two hits apiece. Moore led the way with two RBI.
Rebekah Cook took the loss. She worked all eight frames and had a pair of strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they play a doubleheader at Catawba starting at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at PacerSports.com.
