GAFFNEY, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost both games of a doubleheader at Limestone Tuesday by scores of 7-4 and 5-3.
The Pacers are now 14-23 on the season.
In game one, head coach
Jaclin Poole's team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. With two down,
Skylar Morley drew a walk before quickly swiping second base.
Holly Daum's base knock drove her in for the advantage.
The Saints plated three runs in their half of the frame and the score remained 3-1 until the fourth.
Emily Ayers moved into third place on the USC Aiken career home run list with a blast to straight-away center field.
Shi Cain walked and was able to trot home when
Mallory Shaver crushed an offering to center field for the 4-3 lead.
Limestone countered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-4 score. The home squad tacked on a run in the sixth for the final tally.
For the game, Ayers, Daum,
Jakayla McKelvey and Shaver all had hits. Ayers and Shaver each posted a home run while Shaver drove in a team-best two runs.
Lakyn Phillips got the start and worked 2.1 innings. She had a strikeout.
Payton Baker came in and tossed 3.2 frames with six strikeouts.
In game two, Poole's team took an early lead. Morley was the catalyst in the first at bat, pouncing on an offering to the shortstop for a single. She stole second and moved to third when Ayers pulled a pitch through the left side of the infield. Ayers got herself into scoring position and both Pacers trotted home on Shaver's two-run double to right field.
Jessica Stanley took a pitch to the opposite field, doubling home Shaver for a three-run edge. The hit for Stanley broke her single-season best (22).
The Saints managed to cut the deficit to just one with a two-run third frame.
USC Aiken had a chance to increase its lead in the sixth. Ayers led off the inning with a single up the middle. Two batters later, Stanley singled to left field to put two aboard, but back-to-back outs ended the threat.
Limestone plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth, including two that were unearned, for what turned out to be the final runs in the 5-3 contest.
For the game, Ayers led the way with three hits and a run scored. Stanley notched two hits and drove in one. Shaver had two RBI on one hit and scored once. Morley singled and scored while McKelvey also picked up a hit in the loss.
In the circle, Baker took the loss and had one strikeout while Phillips posted two strikeouts.
The Pacers return to PBC action this weekend when they travel to Lander for a three-game series. First pitch of the doubleheader on Saturday is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
