ST. AUGUSTINE – The University of South Carolina Aiken rallied to win a pair of Peach Belt Conference softball games on Wednesday at Flagler College, 4-2 in eight innings and 8-7, at Flagler Field.

USC Aiken raised its overall record to 16-6 and it remains undefeated in the Peach Belt at 4-0. Flagler fell to 16-13 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

In the opener, Flagler trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Garland Evans led off with a single to left-center and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Whitney Woodard. Two batters later, Malloree Escue hit a sharp single through the left side which scored Evans from second, but Escue was caught in a rundown trying to advance to second base.

Neither team could score until the eighth inning. Sydney Kate Murphy led the inning off with a double to left-center for the Pacers. Samantha Chubb followed by belting a two-run homer to center field to give USC Aiken the lead, 4-2.

Hannah Hudson hit a lead-off single up the middle in the home half of the eighth, but was stranded there.

Taylor Morgan (8-3) went the distance for the Pacers and scattered four hits, allowed two runs, walked one batter and fanned nine.

Magan Thrower went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in. Andrea Darling went 2-for-4 with a double.

Tinsley Smith (2-2) picked up the loss in relief. She pitched four innings, allowed four hits and two runs with one walk and four strikeouts. Haleigh Corbally started and lasted four innings. She surrendered four hits and two runs.

Escue went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

In the nightcap, Hudson socked a two-run homer in the third inning to help the Saints take a 5-4 lead and then Maddy Murphy hit a two-run double in the fifth and Flagler looked to be in control with a 7-4 lead.

But the Pacers had other ideas as they rallied in the seventh with four runs. Thrower led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield and Daring followed with a walk. Pinch hitter Julianne Leduc was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Lilly Shoaf followed with a pinch hit two-run single to cut Flagler's lead to 7-6. She took second when the throw to the plate got away from Flagler's catcher. Sarah Montei continued the rally by lofting a single to right field scoring both runners and the Pacers took an 8-7 lead. That chased Flagler reliever Tinsley Smith (2-3) from the game. Corbally retired the three batters she faced.

Keeley Murray drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh and pinch runner Kayla Fuller advanced to second base on a passed ball, but the Saints couldn't score the tying run.

Morgan (9-3) picked up the win in relief, tossing four innings, allowing four hits and two runs. She walked one and fanned four. Chandler Terrapin started and lasted three innings. She gave up six hits and three earned runs.

Montei went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. She led off the second game with a home run.

Tinsley Smith tossed four-plus innings, allowed three hits and four runs. She walked two and struck out four. She relieved starter Katelynn Smith who tossed two innings and surrendered four hits and three earned runs.

Mackenzie Conley collected a pair of singles and scored a run. Hudson went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and she scored two runs. Murphy went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and she scored a run.

Flagler plays host to Young Harris College on Saturday (March 12) at 1 p.m. in another Peach Belt Conference doubleheader.