March 19, 2009

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. – The USC-Aiken softball team swept the Lions of Mars Hill on Thursday at J.H. Satcher Field by scores of 6-4 and 2-1 in the non-conference match up. The Pacers improved to 23-10 this season. Mars Hill fell to 11-11.
 
Megan Lakes (Columbia, S.C.) and Lauren Locklear (Charleston, S.C.) both recorded three hits on the day while Jennifer Day (Pelion, S.C.) tallied two for the Pacers.

In the first game, Mars Hill came out swinging in the first inning and put up three runs. Ashley Seawell (Asheboro, N.C.) doubled to score Rebekah Huff (Mars Hill, N.C.). Ashley Harber (Goose Creek, S.C.) then cleared the bases as she hit a two-run home run.
 
The Pacers came right back in the bottom half of that inning with three runs of their own. Locklear led off with a single before moving to third on a Lions' error. Lakes then came up with a single to score Locklear. Day hit a single but was thrown out at second trying to stretch the play. However, two runners scored on the play to tie the game.
 
Mars Hill’s Anna James (Bellevue, Wash.) singled to right field to put the Lions back ahead in the third frame. Ashley Angell (Winston-Salem, N.C.) scored from third to give the Lions a 4-3 lead.
 
USC-Aiken answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Kendra Baker (Greenwood, S.C.) grounded out, but Lakes scored on the play from third base to tie the game at four runs a piece.

The Pacers then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lakes singled through the left side, scoring Whitney Clary (Newberry, S.C.) to give USC-Aiken a 5-4 advantage. Later in the inning, Locklear stole home to give the Pacers a two run lead.
 
Junior Kathleen Nichols (Orange City, Fla.) recorded the win for the Pacers as she pitched four innings of shut out ball in relief. She walked two batters and struck out one, giving up no hits.

Mars Hill’s Paige Brantley (Raleigh, N.C.) suffered the loss for the Lions as she went four innings, giving up three runs on four hits. She struck out two Pacers and walked one.

The second game started the same as the first as Mars Hill would cross the plate in the first frame. Seawell singled to center field, scoring Huff to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

The Pacers responded in the bottom half of the inning. Lakes singled, advanced to second on an error by Harber, and later scored on a wild pitch by Tara West (Urbana, Ohio) to knot the game at one.
 
The Pacers took the lead for good in the bottom half of the second inning. Day led off the inning with a solo shot to give USC-Aiken a 2-1 advantage.
 
Toni Flessate (Goose Creek, S.C.) pitched a complete game and recorded her 11th win of the season as she gave up one run on one hit. She also struck out one batter.
 
West was tagged with the loss as she gave up both Pacer runs on five hits in a complete game performance. She also struck out four batters.

Mars Hill will travel to Newberry on Saturday for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Boxscore...

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