ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team turned in a stellar defensive performance in game one and had an eight-run sixth inning in game two of the sweep of Claflin Wednesday.
The Pacers won game one 8-0 before posting a 12-7 win in game two.
USC Aiken is now 8-16 on the season.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team got off to a hot start in the opener, plating six runs in the team's first at bat and never looked back.
Jessica Stanley singled to start the game and moved to second on
Lauren Wexler's base knock.
Emily Ayers drove in Stanley with a base hit up the middle.
Shi Cain's single allowed Wexler to score.
Mallory Shaver followed her up with a base hit that plated Ayers for a 3-0 lead.
Grace Ann Thompkins beat out a ball to third base for a hit, loading the bases.
Holly Daum's single to left field drove in Cain. With two down, Stanley doubled to left field, driving in Thompkins and Daum for a 6-0 lead.
With
Lakyn Phillips turning in a stellar performance, the six runs were more than enough for the visitors.
However, USC Aiken added to the advantage in its next at bat. Ayers led off the second with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cain.
The score remained 7-0 until the fifth frame.
Taylor Butts led off the inning with a single up the middle. After moving to second, Stanley doubled her home for the 8-0 final.
Phillips was able to get the first two batters out in the bottom of the fifth. Her no-hit bid was erased with back-to-back singles. However, her shutout was intact despite loading the bags with a walk. Phillips forced a popup to end the game.
Stanley led everyone with a four-for-four performance with two doubles and three RBI. Thompkins went three-for-three with a run scored while Ayers was two-for-four with one RBI and two runs scored. Cain drove in two. In all, nine student-athletes recorded hits while five drove in at least one run. Seven Pacers crossed home plate.
In the circle, Phillips struck out six batters while picking up the victory.
In game two, Shaver singled home Ayers in the third, knotting the score at 1-1. Claflin went ahead 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the stanza.
USC Aiken took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth frame. Wexler walked to lead things off. Two batters later, Cain singled to left field and took second on the throw, putting two in scoring position. Shaver singled home two for a one-run edge.
The home team scored four runs in the bottom of the inning for a 6-3 margin. However, Poole's team surged in front with an eight-run sixth frame for an 11-6 lead.
Butts led off the inning with a single. She moved to third after a wild pitch and passed ball.
Ella Stone's single plated Butts. Stanley's single pushed Stone to second. Two batters later, Ayers brought both Pacers home with a triple.
After a walk to Cain, Shaver doubled home Ayers and Cain. A walk to Thompkins brought Daum to the plate. She promptly tripled home Shaver and Thompkins for a 10-6 lead. Butts lifted a sacrifice fly that allowed Daum to cross home plate.
Wexler doubled to left with one down in the seventh. She scored on a wild pitch for a 12-6 edge. Claflin scored a run in the bottom of the inning for the final score.
Shaver rattled off four hits and drove in five RBI. Ayers, Stanley and Stone had two hits apiece. Ayers and Daum each drove in two.
In the circle,
Payton Baker worked 6.1 innings and struck out nine. Phillips worked the final two-thirds of an inning and had two strikeouts to end the game.
The Pacers return to action Saturday for the first game of a three-game series at USC Beaufort. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
