Lady Cougars Drop Game One 4-2 to USC Aiken
Aiken, SC– India Kornegay tossed a complete game two hitter to lead USC Aiken to a 4-2 victory over Columbus State in game one this afternoon at J.H. Satcher field. CSU lost its third straight game, falling to 36-13 on the year and 12-7 in conference play. USC Aiken improves its record to 25-24 on the season and 8-11 in PBC play.
The Pacers were first on the board in game one in the home half of the third. Starter Kelsey Gilliam retired the first two batters of the frame before USC Aiken used three straight two-out hits, including back to back RBI doubles to jump out to a 2-0 lead after three innings of play.
CSU would answer with two runs of its own the following inning. Casey Googe and Rocky Hemmer both drew walks before moving up 60 feet on a passed ball. Senior Keeley Kennedy notched the big hit for the Lady Cougars with a two-out single up the middle, plating Googe and Hemmer to tie the game at 2.
The lead would be short lived, however, as Kelley King led things off in the fourth with a solo shot to right center to put the Pacers right back up 3-2.
USC Aiken would add to its lead in the sixth, plating one run on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt to make it 4-2.
Kornegay would allow just one hit the final three innings to secure the 4-2 game one victory for USCA, improving her record to 13-6.
Gilliam (10-6) worked six innings for CSU allowing 10 hits and four earned runs. She also registered two strikeouts.
Kennedy led the way at the plate for the Lady Cougars going 1-for-3 with a two RBI single. Lauren Reader was 1-for-2 with a single as CSU was held to just two hits in game one.
