Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AIKEN, SC--40 runs, 39 hits, seven home runs, six errors, a total of 11 pitchers used by both teams and a 23-17 Pacer win, summed up the first of a doubleheader between the Pacers and visiting Francis Marion at J.H. Satcher Field on Friday night.  USCA (10-7, 4-4) posted the six-run victory in four hours and 30 minutes.  The Patriots came back to win the nightcap 5-2 in more of a "normal scoring" baseball game. 
  
After the Patriots posted four runs in the first inning on Pacer hurler, Jason Nuzny, the Pacers came right back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs on the first of two home runs on the day by Tavis Cummings.  Cummings, who hit a longball against Brevard last night, belted his third in two games off Fletcher Kemp to get the Pacers started in the inning. 
  
FMU built an 11-3 lead before the floodgates opened for the Pacers as they scored eight runs on six hits in the bottom of the third inning.  Ashley Farr got things started with a RBI double down the right field line.  Later in the inning, Demetrick Drumming stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and belted a grand slam, the second in as many days for the Pacers.  Last night, Sean Tiernan hit a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to give the Pacers a 16-12 victory over Brevard. 
  
USCA got four more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Michael Snelgrove homered and Cummings hit a two-run double. 
  
The fifth inning was the first inning were neither team scored.  That would change, though as USCA posted two more in the sixth and a five-spot in the seventh as Cummings hit his second home run of the game.  This time it was a two-run blast to left center.  In the seventh, the Pacers scored five times on three hits and one error by FMU, giving the Pacers an amazing 22-15 lead. 
  
The scored didn't end there.  Francis Marion got two more runs in the eighth, cutting the margin to five, but USCA increased the lead to a touchdown in the bottom of the inning for the 23-17 victory. 
  
For the game, Cummings 4-for-7, seven RBI and four runs scored and two home runs.  Drumming was 4-for-6, five RBI and four runs scored.  Both players were just a triple from hitting for the cycle.  Mitch Herne (2-0) earned the victory in relief of Nuzny.  Herne pitched three innings, scattered four hits, two runs, none earned and five strikeouts. 
  
How could game two top game one?  This game was a pitcher's duel as both pitchers threw great games.  Anthony Marchioli was on the hill for the Pacers, while Erin Jones threw for FMU. 
  
Unlike the previous game, neither team got on the scoreboard until the second inning as Farr hit a solo home run to right center field.  USCA built the lead to 2-0 in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Kyle Langley.  By this point in the game, both Marchioli and Jones each had eight strikeouts and only a combined two walks. 
  
However, things for Marchioli were about to change, as FMU put up five runs in the sixth to take the lead.  Jerry Honeycutt hit a two-run triple to tie the game before an out was even recorded.  Following the triple, Jimbo Watson doubled down the left field line, scoring the game winner. 
David Caison came into the game in relief of Marchioli, who was charged with all five runs.  Marchioli (2-3) went five innings, allowed five hits, five runs, four earned, one walk and nine strikeouts. 
  
Jones, who went the distance in the seven-inning contest, allowed six hits, two runs; both earned one walk and 12 strikeouts. 
  
The Pacers and the Patriots will play the rubber-match tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
Francis Marion    425 200 220  -  17  17  2 
USC Aiken            218 402 51X  -  23  22  4
Francis Marion    000 005 0  -  5  5  0 
USC Aiken            010 010 0  -  2  6  3