AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a doubleheader with Limestone Thursday afternoon, winning 1-0 before dropping a 3-1 contest in the nightcap.
The Pacers are now 26-18 overall. The Saints stand at 30-16.
In game one, head coach
Jaclin Poole's team got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With one down,
Brianna Dow doubled to the gap in right center field on a 2-2 pitch.
Emily Ayers poked a pitch through the left side of the infield, pushing Dow to third. After Ayers swiped second base,
Brooke Moore lifted a pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly that plated Dow, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. The run was more than enough for the USC Aiken defense.
Behind the solid outing of
Lakyn Phillips in the circle and tremendous defense, the Pacers maintained the advantage en route to the victory.
After the Saints put two runners on in the second, Phillips struck out the next two batters to end the threat. Limestone had two on in the third, but
Mallory Shaver snagged a pop up in foul territory to end the stanza.
The Saints registered a one-out double in the fifth, but Phillips struck out a batter and Moore plucked a pop-up in foul territory to send it to the bottom of the inning. The visitors put runners on base in the sixth and seventh, but USC Aiken turned them away for the win.
For the game, Ayers, Dow and
Skylar Morley picked up hits. Moore drove in Dow for the team's lone run.
In the circle, Phillips went the distance. She struck out six and did not walk anyone. Phillips scattered nine hits in the victory.
Both teams had chances to get on the board in game two, but neither could push across a run until the seventh.
Limestone managed to plate three runs with two outs in the seventh inning, but Poole's team had a chance to win it in the bottom of the frame.
Shaver drew a four-pitch walk. With one down,
Taylor Butts earned a walk. Then, with two away, Dow walked to load the bags. Ayers singled home Shaver, but a groundout ended the game.
For the game, Ayers went three-for-three with one RBI. Dow,
Ashlyn White and Shaver all had hits. Shaver scored the team's lone run.
Payton Baker took the loss. She gave up three runs on eight hits. For the game, she struck out six and walked two.
The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play a doubleheader at Flagler starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
