FLORENCE, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team lost a pair of games at Francis Marion Saturday afternoon.
Game scores were 1-0 (8 innings) and 7-3.
The Pacers are now 0-2 on the season while the Patriots stand at 2-0.
In game one,
Skylar Morley got things going with a one-out base knock to left field in the first inning. She promptly stole second but was stranded in scoring position. USC Aiken threatened in the second while
Riley Daniel singled to right field.
Lydia Johnson's infield single pushed Daniel to second.
Ella Stone's infield base hit loaded the bags but the next three student-athletes were retired, keeping the game scoreless.
After
Payton Baker continued to be dominant in the circle, retiring the side for the third consecutive time, Poole's team put a runner in scoring position in the fourth stanza. With two down,
Chloe Phillips drew a walk. When
Taylor Butts was hit by a pitch, Phillips moved to second base, but a groundout ended the frame.
USC Aiken tried to get on the board in the sixth. With two away, Stone singled to left field and
Chloe Phillips was hit by a pitch. However, a strikeout ended the inning.
In the eighth inning, the Patriots managed to push across an unearned run with two away for the 1-0 victory.
For the game, Stone recorded two hits in three at bats. Daniely, Johnson and Morley all had base knocks. Morley also swiped a base.
In the circle, Baker was outstanding. She struck out nine batters and did not walk anyone. Baker gave up one unearned run on four hits.
The Pacers jumped on top with a run in the first frame of game two.
Jena Dewalt drew a four-pitch walk and hustled to second on Morley's single to left field. The duo each moved up 60 feet as they recorded a double steal.
Austyn Dixon singled home Dewalt for a 1-0 lead.
USC Aiken nearly extended the advantage in the third as Morley rocketed a pitch to left field for a one-out single. After hustling to second, she moved to third on a wild pitch. However, she was stranded on a groundout.
FMU scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and added another run in the fifth, but Poole's team continued to threaten the Patriots. In the sixth, Johnson singled to right field and moved to second on a fielder's choice. With two down, a fielder's choice ended the frame.
The Patriots plated three runs in the sixth for a 7-1 margin. In the seventh, Dewalt registered a two-out single. Morley's base hit pushed Dewalt to second base. Dixon doubled home the duo to make it 7-3 but USC Aiken could get no closer.
For the game, Morley led the way with three hits. Dewalt, Dixon and Johnson had two hits apiece. Dixon drove in three while Dewalt scored twice and Morley crossed home once.
In the circle,
Lakyn Phillips tossed a complete game. She had six strikeouts in the loss.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Newberry in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
