Box Score AIKEN, SC--After a two hour and 50 minute rain delay, the Pacers and Cougars of Columbus State finally took the field for what has the makings for a key PBC matchup with postseason implications.  CSU, ranked seventh nationally, won the series opener 6-3 over the 19th ranked Pacers, snapping the Pacers eight-game winning streak. 
  
Coming into the contest, the Pacers were the third-best team nationally in run production, averaging over nine runs a game, while CSU was the best team in the nation in scoring defense and led the nation in team-ERA with a 2.25 mark.  This game had all the ingredients to be a good one and it lived up to its hype. 
  
Instead of the Pacer bats making the early noise, it was Columbus State (30-10, 13-6 PBC), who jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning.  Ladd Hammond belted a three-run homer off Pacer hurler Jason Nuzny capping the inning for the Cougars.  CSU added another run in the fourth on a RBI double down the left field line by Chris Gilstrap giving CSU a 5-0 lead. 
  
The Pacer bats began to come alive in the bottom of the inning as USCA cut the deficit to 5-2 with a two-run homer by Demetrick Drumming, his 16th of the year.  Following the home run, a single by Ashley Farr and Bradley Key received a free pass after he was hit by the Scott Sears offering.  USCA had men at second and third with nobody out.  However, Sears battled back forcing the next two Pacer batters to popup and a strikeout ended the Pacer threat. 
  
Pacer head coach Kenny Thomas went to the bullpen and brought in Chad McMurray to relieve Nuzny.  McMurray went the rest of the way, allowing three hits, one earned run, two walks and five strikeouts. 
  
USCA cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a fly ball to center field by Tony Hanks.  Ashley Farr scored after the Cougar center fielder made an errant relay throw.
The Cougars scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth on a bang-bang play at the plate.  Following a double to center field by Hammond, Farr made a solid throw to the plate as Josh Maner slid under the tag of Pacer catcher Michael Snelgrove for the score. 
  
With on last chance in the ninth, the Cougars brought in Brian Baker to close out the game.  The Pacers had men at the corners and the tying run at the plate with two outs and the heart of their order up.  On a 1-2 count, Tavis Cummings hit into a fielder's choice to end the game. 
  
Nuzny (4-5) picks up the loss for the Pacers, going 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, five earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts.  Sears (5-2) earns the win pitching eight innings, five hits, three runs, two earned, three walks and a game-high eight strikeouts. 
  
Both of these teams will be back at it tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at J.H. Satcher Field for a doubleheader to conclude the series. 
  
#7 Columbus St.       004 100 001   -    6  11  3 
#19 USC Aiken          000 201 000   -    3    6  2