AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a doubleheader with No. 12 Anderson Saturday, winning 4-0 before falling 11-4.
The Pacers are now 3-9 on the season.
In game one, head coach
Jaclin Poole's team dominated the visiting Trojans. USC Aiken jumped on the board in the bottom of the first frame and never looked back.
Jena Dewalt singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. An error allowed
Shi Cain to reach first and Dewalt to hustle to third. After
Jakayla McKelvey came in as a pinch runner and stole second,
Mallory Shaver singled home Dewalt for a 1-0 edge.
Skylar Morley's base knock plated McKelvey for the two-run lead.
The Pacers tacked on a run in the bottom of the third. Ayers led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center field. Two batters later,
Kadence Adams reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Ayers to cross home plate.
With
Lakyn Phillips dominating the opposition, USC Aiken was in complete control. However, the Pacers managed to add the fourth run of the day in the fifth frame. On a 1-1 pitch, Cain blasted a home run for the 4-0 lead.
It was more than enough as Phillips registered 13 strikeouts and walked just one. She gave up five hits in seven innings of work.
At the plate, DeWalt led the way with two hits while Ayers, Cain, Morley and Shaver had one apiece.
In game two, the visitors took a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when Poole's team got on the board. Cain led off the inning with a double to left center field and moved to third when
Kadence Adams reached on an error.
Ashlyn White came in as a pinch runner and quickly stole second base. Shaver's single to left field plated Cain. Moments later,
Holly Daum singled in White to make it 5-2.
Trailing 7-2, Adams singled home Dewalt, who reached on an error earlier in the fifth. Down 11-3 in the sixth, USC Aiken cut into the deficit when
Emily Ayers ripped a single that scored
Ella Stone, who had come in as a pinch runner.
For the game, Adams, Ayers and Shaver had two hits apiece.
Taylor Butts, Cain and Daum each had one hit. Adams, Ayers, Daum and Shaver had one RBI apiece while Cain, Dewalt, Stone and White each scored.
Payton Baker got the start and worked 5.2 innings. She had one strikeout. Adams worked one-third of an inning while Phillips struck out two in the seventh frame.
USC Aiken returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Wingate for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
