NEWBERRY, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team split a doubleheader with USC Aiken here Tuesday, dropping Game One, 3-2, in eight innings and winning, 4-3, in Game Two.

Newberry is now 7-8-1 on the season, while USC Aiken is 11-5.

Game One: USC Aiken 3, Newberry 2 (8 innings)
Newberry led, 2-1, going into the top of the seventh inning, but allowed USC Aiken to score in the seventh and eighth innings to drop the first game of the day.

USCA opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, when Megan Lakes scored on a passed ball.

Newberry's Jenny Raines (Blythewood, S.C.) responded in the bottom of the fourth by hitting a homerun (1) to left field, tying the game at 1-all.

The Lady Indians took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Ginna Dean (Willow Springs, N.C.) led the inning off with a single to left, and Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.) reached on a bunt single. Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Dean scored when Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) hit a single to shortstop.

Needing three outs to put away the game, the Lady Indians were unable to hold on. Stephanie Monette (3-4, Conway, S.C.) led the inning off by issuing her only walk of the game to Jessica Hoffman. After Brooke Dooley struck out, the Lady Pacers strung together three straight singles, as Hoffman beat Hammond's throw to the plate to tie the game on a Sherrelle Brooks single.

Newberry was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

With Ashley Dyches starting out at second due to the international tiebreaker, USCA started the inning by moving her to third base with a Lakes sacrifice bunt. Dyches scored on an Amber Driggers single to second, beating a throw home.

Dean was the runner on second to start the Newberry eighth and the speedster moved to third on a bunt single by Powell. Kirby placed her second sacrifice bunt of the game to put both runners in scoring position. After a Hammond pop-up, Tiffany Pigage (Lexington, S.C.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.

Pinch hitter Haley Watson (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) was unable to reach base though, as her pop-up to second ended the game.

Monette went the distance for the Lady Indians, giving up nine hits, walking only one batter while striking out 10. Samantha Blair gave up eight hits and struck out five for USC Aiken.

Game Two: Newberry 4, USC Aiken 3
Pigage hit her first career homerun in the bottom of the sixth to help lead Newberry to a Game Two win.

The Lady Indians drew first blood, as Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) hit the first pitch she saw for a double to left field. Dean walked and Powell reached on an error, scoring Lindler. Kirby was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but USCA pitcher Toni Flessate calmed down and sat the next three batters down in order to stop the damage.

The Lady Pacers got on the board in the top of the third, as Brooks led off the inning by reaching on a Raines error and sneaking to second base as the Newberry infield threw the ball back to the pitcher. After Dyches got to first on an infield single, Brooks stole third with Dyches advancing to second on the throw, putting both runners in scoring position with two outs. Driggers then hit a ball up the middle that looked to be out number three until it caromed off Kirby to shortstop, plating both runners.

Kirby helped her own cause in the bottom of the fifth. After Powell reached first base on an error by the shortstop, Kirby smacked a two-out double to right field, tying the game at 2-2.

In the top of the sixth, Pigage led off with her first career homer to give Newberry the 3-2 advantage. After two consecutive strikeouts, Amy Jarrell (Dover, Del.) started a two-out rally, reaching on an error. Lindler stepped up an hit her second double of the game to plate Jarrell, but the raly was halted when Lindler was caught trying to reach third base.

The Lady Pacers mounted a comeback attempt with back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh by Jessica Strickland and Dyches, but Kirby struck out Lakes and forced Driggers to ground out to second to end the game.

Kirby (4-3) went the distance for Newberry, giving up three runs - one earned - on eight hits, striking out five and walking two. Blair picked up the loss in 1-1/3 innings of relief.

The Lady Indians close out their five-date homestand on Thursday, as they host USC Upstate on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game Two: Newberry College 4, USC Aiken 3
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  USC Aiken........... 002 000 1 -  3  8  3      (11-5)
  Newberry College.... 100 012 X -  4  4  1      (7-8-1)
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  Pitchers: USC Aiken - Flessate; Blair(5). Newberry College - Kirby.
  Win-Kirby(4-3)  Loss-Blair  T-1:40  A-0
  HR NEW - Pigage (1)