FERRUM, Va. -- Aiyana Lew's single in the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap drove in Kylene Culler for the game-winning run in an 8-7 victory and gave Ferrum College a sweep of a USA South softball doubleheader over William Peace University during Senior Day.  The Panthers won the opener 3-0.  Prior to the game, the team honored graduating seniors Chloe Brzycki, Alicia Eichenlaub, Morgan Heath and Karly Thompson.

The Panthers had to rally from a 7-1 deficit in the third inning of game two to get the win, scoring a run in the third, four in the fourth, and one each in the sixth and seventh innings.  Culler opened the seventh inning with a walk, moved to second on Amber Coffin's sac bunt, went to third on a balk and scored when Lew drilled a ball into center field.  Jennibeth Burge had a two-run homer in the second inning of the nightcap for the Pacers (16-22, 10-15 USA South).

Coach Vickie Van Kleeck's team scored all three runs in the opener in the first inning.  Eichenlaub singled down the left field line, moved to second on Heather Mayberry's sac bunt and advanced to third on Amanda Roberts' single.  Brzycki doubled to right field to drive in Eichenlaub and Roberts, then scored on Sadie Wallace's RBI single.

Emily Taylor earned the win in the opener, hurling five and two third innings with no runs and four walks allowed, and striking out one.  Lew was credited with the save, pitching the final inning and a third.  Lew earned the win in game two, working the final four frames for Ferrum.  She allowed three hits, no runs and no walks, and struck out two.  Roberts went 2-4 with three RBI and a stolen base, and Coffin went 2-3.

Ferrum (20-10, 15-7 USA South) will compete in the 2014 USA South Softball Tournament, to be held Friday through Sunday, April 11-13, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.  The Panthers will play as the #4 seed, facing #5 Meredith College Friday at 9:00 a.m.  The tournament champion earns the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Tournament.


2014 USA South Softball Tournament

Day #1 - Friday, April 11
Game #1 - #8 LaGrange vs. #1 Piedmont - 9:00 am
Game #2 - #5 Meredith vs. #4 Ferrum - 9:00 am
Game #3 - #6 Greensboro vs. #3 Averett - 11:00 am
Game #4 - #7 N.C. Wesleyan vs. #2 Huntingdon - 11:00 am
Game #5 - Loser of Game #1 vs. Loser of Game #2 - 1:00 pm
Game #6 - Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2 - 1:00 pm
Game #7 - Loser of Game #3 vs. Loser of Game #4 - 3:00 pm
Game #8 - Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4 - 3:00 pm

Day #2 - Saturday, April 12
Game #9 - Winner of Game #5 vs. Loser of Game #8 - 10:00 am
Game #10 - Winner of Game #7 vs. Loser of Game #6 - 10:00 am
Game #11 - Winner of Game #6 vs. Winner of Game #8 - 12:00 pm
Game #12 - Winner of Game #9 vs. Winner of Game #10 - 2:00 pm

Day #3 - Sunday, April 13
Game #13 - Winner of Game #12 vs. Loser of Game #11 - 10:00 am
Game #14 - Winner of Game #11 vs. Winner of Game #13 - 1:00 pm
Game #15 - same teams as Game #18 (if necessary) - 3:00 pm