HARDEEVILLE -- A sixth-inning surge from USC Aiken proved too much for the USCB softball team to overcome Friday night, as the Sand Sharks dropped the series opener 6-2 at the Richard Gray Sports Complex.

USCB trimmed the deficit to just one run midway through the game, but the Pacers broke it open late, scoring four runs in the sixth to pull away and take control of the Peach Belt Conference matchup.

Madison Murphy (7-6) was tagged with the loss despite a steady effort in the circle, allowing five runs on six hits over 5.1 innings. Meanwhile, Aiken's Lakyn Phillips kept the Sand Sharks' offense at bay, surrendering just four hits and two runs in a complete-game performance.

USC Aiken struck first in the second inning when Autumn Fisher launched a solo home run to center field. The Pacers added another in the third on Mallory Shaver's RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Sand Sharks responded in the fourth, capitalizing on a defensive miscue. After Makenzie Fore reached base, she came around to score on a throwing error, cutting the lead in half and giving USCB some momentum.

But after a scoreless fifth, the Pacers pounced in the sixth. Shaver stayed hot at the plate with a solo homer, and Lydia Johnson added a long ball of her own in a four-run frame that gave the visitors a 6-1 cushion.

USCB tried to claw back in the seventh as Taelor Chang smashed her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot that breathed a bit of life into the home dugout. But Phillips shut the door with her final strikeout of the night to seal the win.

The Sand Sharks will look to bounce back quickly as the two teams meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.