AIKEN, S.C. – Kristen Cochran (4-8) and Toni Flessate (5-5) both pitched effectively as USC Aiken took two games from visiting Lander, 3-1 and 3-2, in Peach Belt Conference softball action Wednesday evening at J.H. Satcher Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
USCA improves to 14-17 overall and 3-5 in the PBC, while Lander falls to 8-21, 1-7.
In the opener, freshman Lauren Locklear led off the third inning with a double and scored on Megan Lakes' triple to right. Back-to-back singles by Jessica Strickland and Sheena Blackwell plated Lakes for a 2-0 lead.
An unearned run in the fourth extended the lead to 3-0 for the hosts. USC Aiken could have done more damage in the game if not for leaving eight runners on base.
USCA starter Kristen Cochran (4-8) did not allow a run through the fourth inning, giving up just two singles. Two USC Aiken errors led to an unearned run and the final margin in the fifth inning.
With a runner on first and no outs in the seventh, Strickland turned an incredible double play behind the plate, catching a foul ball with her bare hand and firing to first to get the runner off the base.
Cochran allowed just three hits and the one unearned run in winning her third-straight decision. Locklear led the Lady Pacers at the plate with two hits in four at-bats.
Austin Murray (2-10) took the loss for Lander, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits while walking two and striking out nine in six innings.
In the nightcap, it was the visitors who jumped ahead first, scoring two runs in the top of the third. Nikki Brown and Daisy Stewart drove in runs in the frame.
After a pair of walks were drawn by Jessica Hoffman and Lakes, Strickland drove in a pair of runs with a double to the gap in left-center, the Lady Pacers' first hit against Lander starter Jenna Kellett.
Locklear led off the fifth inning with a double to right, advanced to third on a single by Lakes, and scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout by Strickland. The Lady Pacers added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
Flessate (5-5) earned the win as she allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits while striking out five in seven complete innings.
Jenna Kellett (2-8) was hit with the loss for Lander, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits in 5.2 innings.
Strickland finished 1-for-3 with three RBI while Locklear, Lakes, and Hoffman had a hit apiece and each scored a run.
