AIKEN, S.C.—USC Aiken improved to 7-1 on the season by sweeping a softball doubleheader from Newberry College at J.H. Satcher Field in Aiken, S.C.  The Lady Pacers won game one 4-3 behind a school record 15 strikeouts by junior pitcher Stacie Oakley.  USCA came from behind twice to win game two by a 5-2 score over the Lady Indians (3-9).

With the score tied in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one, Newberry intentionally walked Karlee Haynes to load the bases with one out.  Kayce McLeod (Newberry, S.C.) got Ashley Dyches to pop-up to first base for out number two, but Ashley Garnett singled through the right side to drive in the winning run.

McLeod and USCA’s Stacie Oakley were locked in a strike out duel for much of the game, combining for 25 strike outs.  McLeod (2-4) allowed four runs, 10 hits and one walk over six and two-thirds innings while striking out 10 batters.  Only one of USC Aiken’s four runs was earned as Newberry committed four errors.      

Oakley (3-0) broke her own school mark for strike outs in a game, one better than her total against Bluefield College in the opening game of the season.  The junior allowed a season high three runs on five hits.

Brooke McSwain got the Lady Pacers on the board in the first inning when she scored on Newberry’s first error of the game.  Haynes followed with an RBI double to center field to make it 2-0.

The Lady Indians answered in the top half of the second inning.  Ashleigh Anderson (Barnwell, S.C.) tied the game with a two-run single to right field.

Deidre Simmons put USC Aiken back in front in the fourth.  The sophomore tripled down the left field line scoring Garnett.  Simmons finished two-for-three and Garnett went two-for-four with the game winning hit.

USCA took the 3-2 advantage into the final inning but with one out, Betsy Shealy (Leesville, S.C.) drove an Oakley pitch over the left field fence to tie the game.

In the second game, the Lady Pacers came from behind to tie the score twice and then scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for good.

Newberry capitalized on a leadoff walk in the first inning.  Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then swiped third base.  A groundout by Sarah Lynch (Pompano Beach, Fla.) put the Lady Indians in front 1-0.

Kelly Ford’s, one out, pinch-hit RBI single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning got USC Aiken on the board and tied the score 1-1.  McSwain lined into a double play before USCA platted any more runs and Newberry took advantage in the next inning.  McLeod scored on an error to put the Lady Indians back in the lead, 2-1.

USC Aiken used a Lady Indian error in the home half of the fifth to tie the game a second time.  Ashlyn Allen, pinch-running for Haynes, scored from second on an error by Shealy.

With one out in the sixth, Brittany Paulling drew a one-out walk to load the bases.  Sarah Harvey followed with a single through the left side of the infield that scored Simmons and Haynes drove in a pair with a single to left center.

Simmons finished game two with two hits in three at bats and a run scored.  Haynes went two-for-four with two RBIs.  In both games combined, Haynes had four hits in seven at bats and drove in three runs.

JoAnn Jones (2-1) tossed a complete game two-hitter.  The junior allowed one earned run in seven innings of work and struck out four batters.  Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) (1-5) suffered the loss after allowing 10 hits, five runs and two walks in five and one-third innings.

Newberry faces Lander, Mars Hill, and Wheeling Jesuit tomorrow in the Lady Bearcat Classic.