Box Score KENNESAW, GA--The USCA Pacers (17-9, 5-5 PBC) dropped a 7-4 decision to the sixth-ranked Owls of Kennesaw State on Friday in the first of a three-game series.  KSU improves to 16-4 on the year and 8-2 in conference action. 
  
The Owls broke open a scoreless game in the third inning as Julius Thames hit a RBI single, scoring Josh Pellior for the 1-0 lead.  KSU tallied another run in the fourth inning off Pacer freshman hurler Jason Nuzny. 
  
USCA came back in the top of the sixth with a run as Bradley Key hit a single to third base, scoring Demetrick Drumming from third, who stole both second and third, getting into scoring position. 
  
Kennesaw improved its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh with one more run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Pellior. 
  
The Pacers cut the deficit once again in the top of the eighth, as Key hit anther run-scoring single to make the score 3-2. Nuzny continued to throw into the eighth for the Pacers. 
  
Pellior hit a two-run double in the eighth to break open the game and give KSU a 5-2 lead.  Following the double, Travis Evans also hit a two-run double in the inning with two outs to boost the KSU lead to 7-2.  Nuzny (2-3) went seven-and-one-third, allowing seven hits, five runs, all earned, four walks and four strikeouts.  Mitch Hearne came in the eighth and gave up the final two runs. 
  
The Pacers did not go away quietly as they scored two runs in the top of the ninth but were unable to get any more, falling 7-4. Ashley Morgan started things off for the Pacers in the last inning with a triple to right center.  A RBI-ground out by Michael Snelgrove scored Morgan.  A double by Tavis Cummings scored the second run but that would be all. 
  
The Pacers and Owls will conclude the three-game set on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
USC Aiken           000 001 012  -    4  12  1 
Kennesaw St.     001 100 14X  -    7    9  0