AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team split a doubleheader against No. 11 Wingate, winning the first game 4-3 in eight innings before falling 6-3 in the nightcap.

The Pacers are now 14-7 on the season while the Bulldogs stand at 21-6.

Jena Dewalt led off the bottom of the first with a double to the left center field wall. Two batters later, Austyn Dixon roped a double near the same spot for a 1-0 advantage. A base hit by Mallory Shaver put runners on the corners and Kate Newberry promptly brought her home with a single to center field.

The score remained the same until the top of the fifth when the Bulldogs plated a run. The visitors added a run in the seventh to force extra innings.

The teams had the international tiebreaker rule in play and WU drove in a run in the top of the eight for a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the stanza, Dixon was placed on second base. With one down, Newberry stepped up to the plate. Facing an 0-2 count, she blasted a line drive over the left center field wall for the 4-3 victory.

For the game, Dewalt, Dixon, Newberry and Shaver had two hits apiece. Newberry led the way with three RBI. Dixon crossed home twice in the win.

In the circle, Payton Baker went the distance and had eight strikeouts to get the win. She gave up three runs, but only one was earned. Baker did not allow a walk in the contest.

Poole's team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second stanza of game two. Two pitches into the frame, Shaver rocketed the pitch over the left field wall to make it 1-0. Newberry took the next pitch over the right center field wall for a two-run advantage.

Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Dewalt added to the lead. With two away, she took the first pitch she saw and launched an opposite field shot over the left field fence for a solo blast.

The Bulldogs pushed across a run in the sixth to make it a 3-2 contest. The visitors managed to plate four runs in the seventh for the winning margin.

For the game, USC Aiken had four hits – three of which went for home runs. Dewalt, Newberry and Shaver all had round-trippers in the contest while Dixon had the team's other hit.

In the circle, Lakyn Phillips worked 6.2 innings and had five strikeouts in the loss. Baker came in and faced a batter but Chloe Phillips threw out a runner trying to steal for the final out of the top of the seventh.

The Pacers return to action Sunday when they host USC Beaufort for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.