COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team established a school record for home runs in a season as the team picked up a sweep at Benedict, winning by scores of 4-1 and 13-1 Wednesday afternoon.
The Pacers are now 27-18 on the season.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team has 46 home runs, besting the mark of 42 set a season ago. It marks the third consecutive season Poole's team established a school record for round-trippers in a year.
Trailing 1-0 after the Tigers plated a run in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game. However, USC Aiken quickly responded. In the top of the fifth,
Madison Rogers crushed a lead-off round-tripper, knotting the game at 1-1.
Ella Stone reached on a fielding error and hustled to second base. After Ashton Turner's fly ball pushed Stone to third, the Pacers took the lead as Stone scored when
Lydia Johnson reached on a throwing error.
Poole's squad added to the lead in the sixth inning.
Riley Daniel led off the stanza with a single. After two fly ball outs, Rogers blasted a two-run home run over the right center field fence for a 4-1 lead.
Benedict managed to get a runner on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but
Payton Baker shut the home team down for the win.
For the game, Johnson led the way with a game-high three hits. She added one RBI. Rogers posted two hits – both of which were round trippers – to go along with three RBI. Daniel,
Jena Dewalt,
Chloe Phillips and Turner registered hits. Daniel and Stone scored in the victory.
In the circle, Baker tied her career high with 13 strikeouts. She gave up just one run on two hits with four walks.
Game two saw USC Aiken jump on top in the first inning and never look back. Dewalt walked, stole second and scored on Johnson's double to left field. Moments later,
Mallory Shaver's base hit to right field pushed Johnson across for a 2-0 edge.
In the second frame, Dewalt singled and moved to third when Johnson reached on a fielder's choice.
Austyn Dixon laced a three-run home run over the wall for a 5-0 edge.
Kate Newberry followed it up with a solo shot of her own, giving the visitors a six-run margin.
In the third,
Skylar Morley laid down a bunt single and promptly stole second base. After moving to third on a fly ball,
Taylor Butts roped a double through the left side, driving in Morley. Dewalt tripled home Butts for an 8-0 lead.
After Johnson was hit by a pitch, she stole second. A fly ball by Dixon pushed across Dixon. Newberry followed it up with an RBI single and Shaver capped off the frame with a double to right center, knocking in another run.
Grace Ann Thompkins reached on an error in the fourth and scored when Stone tripled to the gap in right center field. Stone completed the Pacers' scoring after racing home on a wild pitch.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth for the final score.
For the game, Dewalt, Newberry and Shaver had two hits apiece. Dixon registered four RBI while Newberry and Shaver notched two RBI apiece. Dewalt and Johnson scored three times each while Newberry trotted home twice.
In the circle,
Marlena Perez went the distance for the win. She struck out seven batters and did not allow an earned run on eight hits with a pair of walks.
The Pacers return to action Saturday when they host Georgia Southwestern for a doubleheader on Senior Day starting at 1 p.m. Fans should arrive by 12:30 to watch the festivities. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
