AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost an 8-5 contest to Augusta in eight innings Thursday afternoon.
The Pacers are now 17-26 on the season, including 9-12 against league teams.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, head coach
Jaclin Poole's team quickly knotted the score.
Jessica Stanley ripped a double to the gap in left center field before moving to third on a groundout.
Emily Ayers lifted a deep fly ball to center field, allowing Stanley to scamper home.
With the score still tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth,
Mallory Shaver drew a walk.
Grace Ann Thompkins came in as a pinch runner and
Jena Dewalt entered the contest as a pinch hitter. Dewalt fought off several pitches with two strikes before lining a pitch over the right field wall for a 3-1 advantage.
AU plated three runs in the fifth for a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the stanza, Stanley was hit by a pitch. She moved to second on a groundout before hustling to third when
Emily Ayers reached on an error. However, a strikeout ended the frame.
Still trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth,
Jakayla McKelvey blasted her first career round-tripper, knotting the contest with one away on the long fly ball over the right field fence.
Neither team scored in the seventh, forcing extra frames. The Jaguars plated four runs in the top of the frame but Poole's team tried to battle back in the bottom of the stanza. Ayers led off the inning with a double to right center field. Shaver singled to put two runners on. Two batters later, Ayers scored on a groundout but USC Aiken could not push across any more runs.
Stanley led the way with two hits, including a double. Dewalt and McKelvey each scored twice.
In the circle,
Lakyn Phillips got the start and worked five frames, striking out three.
Payton Baker took the loss and had three strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action Saturday, Apr. 15 when they host Flagler for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. It will also be Senior Day. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.