DUE WEST, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team registered a sweep at Erskine by scores of 4-3 and 7-3.
The Pacers are now 13-7 on the season.
In game one, head coach
Jaclin Poole's team trailed 1-0 going into the third inning. After
Brianna Dow reached on a fielder's choice,
Mallory Shaver launched a two-run homer for a 2-1 edge.
The Flying Fleet tied the game in the bottom of the third and the score remained knotted at 2-2 through seven frames. In the top of the eighth,
Lauren Wexler was placed on second base per the international tiebreaker rule.
Emily Ayers promptly brought her home with a double down the left field line. After
Brooke Moore singled Ayers to third,
Holly Daum lifted a one-out sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.
Erskine pulled within one in the bottom of the frame but
Payton Baker registered a strikeout and two fly ball outs to Daum to end the game.
For the contest, Ayers went three-for-four to lead the way. Moore registered two hits while Shaver drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, Baker went the distance and struck out 11 to pick up the win.
Down 1-0 in the second inning of game two,
Skylar Morley singled home Moore, who had walked, swiped second and moved to third on a fly ball.
Trailing 2-1 in the third, Ayers rocketed a pitch over the wall for a 4-2 edge. Dewalt and Dow each scored on the round-tripper.
Leading 4-3 in the sixth,
Ashlyn White's sacrifice fly pushed Morley across the plate for a two-run margin. Poole's team added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh for the final tally. In the last at bat, Morley was productive once again, driving in Ayers. Wexler scored on a wild pitch for the four-run lead.
For the game, Ayers, Dow and Morley had two hits apiece. Ayers drove in three and scored twice while Morley drove in a pair of Pacers.
In the circle,
Rebekah Cook got the start and worked 2.1 innings with a strikeout before
Lakyn Phillips tossed the final 4.2 frames for the win. Phillips struck out seven batters in the victory.
The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play a doubleheader at Augusta starting at 1 p.m. Live video will be available at PacerSports.com.