AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team completed the sweep of Lander Saturday afternoon by claiming a pair of wins.
Game scores were 7-1 and 10-2 (5 innings).
The Pacers are now 23-12 overall, including an 8-7 ledger in the PBC.
In game one,
Jena Dewalt led off the first inning with a single. After moving to second on a bunt single from
Lydia Johnson, runners were on the corners when
Austyn Dixon reached on a fielder's choice. After a walk to
Mallory Shaver,
Kate Newberry blasted a double off the top of the right field fence, driving in a pair of Pacers for a 2-0 edge.
USC Aiken extended the margin in the second stanza.
Skylar Morley led off the inning by lacing a single through the left side of the defense.
Ella Stone reached on a bunt single to second base and
Taylor Butts laid down a sacrifice bunt, pushing everyone up 60 feet. Dewalt ripped a single into right field, knocking in Morley and Stone.
Dewalt rocketed an offering over the right field wall with one down in the fifth, extending the advantage to 5-0 on the line drive home run.
Leading 5-1 in the sixth, Dixon drew a one-out walk.
Grace Ann Thompkins came in as a pinch runner and moved to third on Shaver's single off the wall in center field.
Ashlyn White entered as a pinch runner and stole second. Newberry smacked a single to left field, plating Thompkins. With
Anna Turner in as a pinch runner, USC Aiken registered a double steal for a 7-1 advantage.
For the game, Dewalt led the way with a three-hit performance. She drove in three and scored twice. Morley, Newberry and Shaver had two hits apiece. Newberry knocked in three in the win.
In the circle,
Lakyn Phillips was outstanding. She gave up just one run on seven hits. Phillips struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning of game two but quickly responded. Dewalt took the first pitch for a single to center field and moved to second on Johnson's bunt single.
Austyn Dixon ripped a single through the right side, driving in Dewalt. Two batters later, Johnson and Dixon executed a perfect double steal as Dixon crossed home plate for a one-run lead.
Tied at 2-2 in the fourth, Butts singled up the middle with two down and promptly moved to second on Dewalt's infield hit. Camreon Greene came in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk to load the bases.
Lydia Johnson re-entered the game and Dixon belted a single up the middle, driving in two. Shaver's single plated Johnson before Newberry reached on an error, allowing Dixon to make it 6-2.
Chloe Phillips' hard-hit single to the shortstop plated Shaver.
Abigail Wyatt's single drove in Newberry for a six-run margin.
Up 8-2 in the fifth, Dewalt started the frame off with a double to right field. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Dixon was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners.
Ashlyn White entered as a pinch runner and stole second base. Shaver ended the game with a double off the top of the left center field fence. Both runners scored for the run-rule victory.
For the game, Dewalt and Shaver had three hits apiece. Dixon and Shaver had three RBI each and Dewalt scored three times. Johnson crossed home plate twice.
In the circle,
Payton Baker went the distance for the complete game win. She had three strikeouts in the victory.
The Pacers return to action Thursday, Apr. 4, when they play a doubleheader at Emmanuel. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
