AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team used a four-run fifth inning to knock off Georgia Southwestern 8-5 Friday evening.

The Pacers are now 18-12 on the season and 5-5 in league play. The Hurricanes are 18-12 on the year and 5-2 against PBC foes.

In the bottom of the first, a walk to Emily Ayers pushed Brianna Dow to second base. With two down, Brooke Moore ripped an 0-2 pitch to left center field, making it 1-0.

With the score still at 1-0 in the third, head coach Jaclin Poole's team went back to work. Lauren Wexler belted the first pitch of the frame to center field. Dow reached on an error. With one down, Mallory Shaver crushed a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence to make it 4-0.

The Hurricanes plated five runs in the fifth, taking a 5-4 lead. However, Poole's squad quickly answered in the bottom half of the stanza. Dow doubled to right field and moved to third on a base knock by Ayers. Jena Dewalt came in as a pinch runner for Ayers and promptly swiped second base. The move paid off as Shaver ripped a 1-2 pitch to left field for a 6-5 advantage.

Moore reached on a fielder's choice and Skylar Morley's base hit put two on base. Ashlyn White came in as a pinch hitter and rocketed a base hit to right field, scoring Moore and Morley while pushing the score to 8-5.

Payton Baker picked up the win while throwing 4.1 innings. Lakyn Phillips hurled 2.2 frames for her first career save.

At the plate, Shaver had a pair of hits, including the homer. She drove in five runs in the win. Morley, Moore and Wexler had two hits apiece. Dow scored three times while White drove in a pair on the pinch hit.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader against Georgia Southwestern beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.