AIKEN, N.C. – The USCA softball team lost a pair of games to No. 11 North Georgia on Saturday by scores of 6-4 and 23-9.
The Pacers are now 11-11 on the season, including 0-2 in PBC play.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team trailed 1-0 before
Peri Rouillard singled up the middle and hustled to second on a wild pitch. After going to third on a sacrifice bunt,
Mallory Shaver rocketed a base hit to left field, plating Rouillard.
Trailing 5-1 in in the fourth,
Tara McGee and
Cameron Greene were each hit by a pitch.
Anna Turner reached on a fielder's choice, erasing Greene.
Madison Rogers promptly blasted a three-run shot to make it 5-4.
Poole's squad had a chance to tie it or take the lead in the fifth when
Kate Newberry led off the stanza with a single. A base hit to
Autumn Fisher put two runners on before McGee walked to load the bags. However, a double play and a groundout ended the frame.
USCA left two runners on in the sixth before the Nighthawks scored a run in the seventh.
For the game, Rouillard, Fisher and Rogers had two hits apiece. Rogers blasted a three-run home run.
In the circle,
Payton Baker went the distance and gave up six runs, only four of which were earned, on eight hits. She had three strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
Game two saw UNG take a 6-0 lead before USCA knotted the game in the bottom of the first frame.
Lydia Johnson doubled and after a walk to Shaver, Newberry blasted a three-run shot. Fisher doubled and McGee recorded a single before the two moved up a base on an out. After Rogers was hit by a pitch, Fisher scored when Turner reached on an error. Rouillard doubled in two, tying the game.
Trailing 9-6 in the second, Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly by Fisher.
The Pacers were down 13-7 before plating two more runs in the third inning. Turner singled, allowing
Mollie Rollings to score. A rare double steal saw Rouillard take second while Turner swiped home to make it 13-9.
The Nighthawks scored 10 runs the next two frames for a 23-9 victory.
Newberry had three hits and three RBI while Rouillard had two hits and two RBI. Johnson posted two hits and scored twice in the loss.
Lakyn Phillips got the start and Baker entered in relief, striking out four.
Ally Fleming tossed the final 1.1 innings.
The Pacers return tomorrow when they host North Georgia for the final game of the series at 12 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
