Box Score AIKEN, SC--How better to close the first conference series of the new season with a 16 inning nail-biter that came down to the last play.  That is exactly what happened at J.H Satcher Field as USC Aiken (4-6, 0-3) came out on the short end of the ledger in an 8-7 extra-inning affair against the No. 4 team in the country, Georgia College and State.  The Bobcats improve to a perfect 10-0 on the season and 3-0 in the conference.  The 16 innings also ties a conference record for the longest game.

The Pacers got off to the early 1-0 lead in the first inning as Demetrick Drumming doubled down the left field line, scoring Michael Snelgrove who reached on a throwing error by the Bobcats' short stop.  The Pacers were unable to get anything else across in the inning.

The Bobcats tied the score at one in the fourth inning with a pair of singles by Hal Jackson and Jon Chappell setup the tying run.  The Bobcats were unable to get anything else against the Pacer freshman hurler Paul Ferrell.

USCA tacked on its second run of the game in the bottom of the inning as Justin Williams doubled to left center, followed by a triple by Ashley
Morgan giving USCA the go-ahead run.

The lead was short lived as the Bobcats came back with four runs on three hits and one error in the top of the fifth.  Fueled by a double by Will Martin down the left field line, and a pair of singles, GCSU tied the game at two before an out was recorded in the inning.

With the bases loaded, Andy Mitchell came into the game in relief of Ferrell and forced  Christian Corvos to hit into a fielder's choice as Alex
Stathos was cut down at the plate by Pacer third baseman Morgan.   The next batter followed suit and hit into a fielder's choice as the runner at third was retired in the same fashion.  Lee Cromer came into the game in relief of Mitchell asChappell hit a three-run double down the left field line for a 5-2 lead.

Down 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, the Pacers had to muster some kind of rally with only nine outs left.  A two-run double byDrumming got things going for the Pacers in the inning.  A sacrifice fly by Ashley Farr scored Drumming from third to give the Pacers a 6-5 lead.

???????GCSU got a pair of runs in the eighth and ninth innings, taking a 7-5 lead into the Pacers' last at bat.  With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Williams delivered a RBI single tying the game at seven.

From then on, neither team recorded a hit until the 16th inning.  The Pacers had their best chance in the bottom of the 14th as Clint Keown came into pinch run for Mike Cunningham.  Keown advanced to second on a wild pitch and got caught in a run-down for an out.

???????GCSU loaded the bases in the top of the 16th, before scoring the game-winning run on an error by Morgan, the seventh error of the game by USCA.  The Pacers had one last chance in the bottom of the 16th.  Bradley Key earned a walk, but Bobcat closer Joel Sayre retired the next two batters.  Ronnie
Davis hit a grounder to second base and tried to beat out the throw to first by sliding into the bag.  The umpire called him out to end the game.  It was a very close play that quite possibly tied the game had Davis been called safe.

The Pacers return to action this Tuesday against Erskine at J.H. Satcher Field.  First-pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

???????GCSU                000 140 011 000 000   1  -  8  9    2 
USC Aiken       100 100 401 000 000   0  -  7  13  7