AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA softball team split a doubleheader with Columbus State on Saturday, winning 7-1 before falling 7-3 in the nightcap.
The Pacers are now 14-18 overall, including 3-9 in PBC play.
Head coach
Jaclin Poole's team jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning. With one away,
Lydia Johnson pulled a pitch down the left field line. The left fielder took a bad angle and Johnson ended up with a triple.
Kate Newberry hit a ball to the right field wall. A dropped fly ball allowed Newberry to take second while Johnson trotted home easily for a 1-0 advantage. Two batters later,
Lakyn Phillips helped her own cause with a base hit to right center field that knocked in Newberry.
USCA threatened in the second. With two outs,
Ashlyn White took the first pitch she saw and laced it into the gap in right center field for a triple. However, a pop fly ended the stanza.
Newberry launched a solo round-tripper in the third, increasing the margin to 3-0. With two outs, Phillips beat out a twisting ball to the first baseman for an infield single.
Tara McGee crushed an offering to straight-away center field for a five-run cushion.
Phillips posted a pair of strikeouts with runners in scoring position in the fifth, keeping the contest at 5-0.
In the sixth, Johnson drew a two-out walk and raced home on a double by Newberry.
Mallory Shaver poked a pitch into right field, knocking in Newberry for a 7-0 margin.
For the game, Phillips led the way with three hits. Johnson, McGee and Newberry had two hits apiece. McGee and Newberry launched home runs. Newberry had three RBI while McGee had two. Newberry also scored three times while Johnson crossed home twice.
In the circle, Phillips went the distance and had eight strikeouts. She gave up one run on five hits for the win.
Game two saw the Cougars take a 4-0 lead through the first two frames. In the bottom of the fourth,
Lydia Johnson and Newberry posted back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and third.
Peri Rouillard entered as a pinch runner and swiped second. Both raced home when Phillips blasted a double to the gap in right center field.
CSU scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth for a 6-2 advantage. In the bottom of the inning,
Alexis Stout singled and moved to third on
Ashlyn White's base hit to center field. White hustled to second on the throw to third. Fisher lifted a sacrifice fly to right field as Rogers, who re-entered for Stout, scored to make it 6-3.
The Cougars tacked on a run in the seventh for the final margin.
For the game, Johnson had two hits, including a double. Phillips had a double and drove in two.
In the circle,
Ally Fleming got the start and worked two frames.
Payton Baker worked the final five innings and had four strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host Anderson for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
