AIKEN, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team dropped a pair of one run ball games to USC Aiken, losing the first game, 3-2 and the second, 5-4.

Game One: USC Aiken 3, Newberry 2

The Wolves picked up two runs on five hits early on in the ball game, but it wasn't enough as they fell to regional foe USC Aiken, 3-2, in game number one.

Newberry (5-11) started things off on the right foot, picking up a run in the top of the first inning on a Felicia Taylor (Venice, Fla.) RBI single which scored senior third baseman Chelsie Hilbourn (Loris, S.C.) for a one run lead.

The Wolves then went up 2-0 on USC Aiken (11-5) in the third after another Taylor RBI, this one a double to right field scoring Aissa Gatewood (N. Charleston, S.C.) who singled to lead off the inning.

Newberry was then kept in check for the remainder of the game as the Pacers picked up their first run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to one. Pacer Nicole Borden (Jacksonville, Fla.) then knocked in two runs with a double in the sixth to give Aiken the win.

The Wolves had the game tying run on third in the top of the seventh with just one out but failed to score freshman Codi Kelly (New River, Ariz.).

Taylor once again led the Newberry offensive charge with her 2-for-3 plate performance with a pair of RBIs. Gatewood, Hilbourn and senior Jessie Teague (Charlotte, N.C.) each went 1-for-2 with Gatewood and Hilbourn scoring both Newberry runs.

Taylor also went all six innings pitching, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.

Game Two: USC Aiken 5, Newberry 4

Despite jumping out to an early lead once again, the Wolves failed to hold off USC Aiken in the bottom of the seventh, falling 5-4.

Newberry started off game number two much like the first, with a Taylor RBI single to right field to score Kelly for a 1-0 lead. The Wolves increased their lead to 4-0 after a three run top of the third. Hilbourn smacked an RBI double and was then driven in by Taylor's two run homer over the right field wall.

But the Pacers weren't quiet for long, scoring a pair in the third to cut the lead back down to two with a Lauren Lacklear (Charleston, S.C.) bases clearing triple down the right field line.

Newberry held on to its two run lead until the bottom of the seventh when, the Pacer scored three runs with two outs, capitalizing on three errors and a Kelley King (Chesterfield, S.C.) walk off double which cleared the bases.

Taylor went the distance in game two as well, giving up two earned runs on five hits. The junior was once again a force to be reckoned with at the plate, going 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs.
As a team, Newberry managed just four hits during the game.

The Wolves will be back on the diamond as they take part in the Mid-South Tournament this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Spartanburg, S.C. The first game for Newberry will be against Columbus State at 4 p.m on Friday.