AIKEN, S.C. – Lakyn Phillips tossed a complete-game shutout and Jena Dewalt had a bases clearing double as the University of South Carolina Aiken softball team notched a 4-0 win over No. 12 North Georgia Saturday.

The Pacers improve to 25-17 on the season, including an 8-10 ledger in league play.

Phillips saw the visitors get into scoring position in the first inning, but a line drive double play to Brianna Dow to Brooke Moore ended the inning.

Lauren Wexler led off the bottom of the first with a single and moved to second when Dow was hit by a pitch. However, a fly ball and a double play ended the threat.

UNG put two runners on in the second stanza, but Phillips was up to the challenge. She struck out a batter for the final out and one in scoring position.

The Nighthawks had runners on second and third with only one away in the third, but Phillips forced a pop up and a fly ball to end the inning. Head coach Jaclin Poole's team nearly got on the board in the bottom of the inning. Mallory Shaver led off the frame with a walk. Courtney Leisner came in as a pinch runner and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Butts. She hustled to third on a groundout by Wexler, but a fly ball sent the teams to the top of the fourth.

UNG had a runner on second in the fourth, but a foul pop-up and a strikeout pushed the game into the bottom of the inning. The visitors once again had a student-athlete on second in the fifth, but Phillips recorded back-to-back fly ball outs to end the frame. 

With one away in the bottom of the fifth, Wexler belted the first pitch she saw between the legs of the pitcher into center field for a single. However, a tremendous catch from the left fielder for the second out and a strikeout ended the stanza.

After the first two batters got on base in the top of the sixth, Butts made a sensational snag with one away at third base. She plucked the ball after a hop and retreated to third base where she registered the force out. Phillips garnered a strikeout to send the game to the bottom of the sixth.

Dow went to the opposite field with one away for a single. Shircoria Bosket came in as a pinch runner and it paid huge dividends. Emily Ayers was down 1-2 before poking the ball down the right field line for a single in which Bosket took third. Holly Daum came in as a pinch runner for Ayers and swiftly stole second. A walk to Moore loaded the bags.

After the walk to Moore, Dewalt took the first pitch she saw and laced a double off the wall in right center field. She moved to third on the throw home and Bosket, Daum and Moore crossed the plate for a 3-0 lead. Ashlyn White singled home Skylar Morley moments later, who had reached on a fielder's choice that erased Dewalt at the plate. Morley's run made it 4-0 an it was more than enough for Phillips.

In the seventh, Phillips struck out the first batter, registered a pop-up to Dow for the second and forced a ground ball to Butts for the final out. 

The victory marked just the second time in the program's history it picked up back-to-back wins over UNG. The last time it occurred was March 22, 2000 and March 25, 2001. 

For the game, White had a pair of hits and drove in a run. Dewalt had the bases-clearing double that drove in three. In the circle, Phillips had four strikeouts against just two walks while scattering seven hits.  

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host Limestone for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.