Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AIKEN, SC--The USC Aiken Pacers had its postseason hopes dashed today with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of No. 7 Columbus State.  The Cougars won game one 11-6 with a six-run output in the ninth inning.  CSU prevailed in the nightcap 8-5.  USCA falls to 31-17 and 12-12 in the Peach Belt.

Game one began with CSU jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI single by Larry Pittmon to give CSU the early 1-0 lead.  The Pacers came right back in the bottom of the inning on a lead off triple by Larry Walker followed by a RBI ground out by Ashley Morgan to even the score at one.

Columbus State regained the lead in the third inning on a RBI single to left field by Andrew Ginther.  CSU posted another run in the fifth to go up 3-1.  After a Ladd Hammond double, Ginther knocked in the fourth run of the game on a single to left field.

In the Pacer half of the sixth, Micheal Snelgrove led off the inning with a double down the left field line.  Later, Ashley Morgan roped a single through the left side of the infield moving Snelgrove to third.  Demetrick Drumming reached on an error by the Cougar third baseman, allowing Snelgrove to score.

After the Pacers were done in the sixth, the rains came and delayed the game for over an hour.

Finally when play was resumed, CSU scored two more runs in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead.  After a double by Chris Gilstrap to lead off the inning, Pacer skipper Kenny Thomas went to his bullpen and brought in relief pitcher Lee Cromer for starter Paul Ferrell who went six innings, allowed nine hits, four earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.  Later in the inning, Ginther belted a RBI double to right center to cap the inning.

The Pacers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a three-run home run by Tavis Cummings, his sixth round-tripper of the season off Cougar reliever Brian Baker.  After the home run, USCA had runners at second an third with one out and were unable to break the 5-5 tie as Baker retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.

To begin the ninth, Thomas went to his bullpen once again and brought in Matt Okuly.  After an error by Okuly, Pittmon hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score the go-ahead run.  Another run by the Cougars again loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Jay Bayer.  The Pacers brought in relief pitcher David Caison to get out of the jam.  However, Bayer crushed a ball to deep center field for a grand slam to give CSU an 11-5 lead.

The Pacers scored one run in the bottom as Morgan reached on a pair of errors by the Cougars third baseman, scoring Justin Williams.

Game two began with the Cougars taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single by Taylor Groce.  The Pacers were unable to score in their half of the first and neither team got anything across in the second.

CSU led off the third with back-to-back home runs by Josh Maner and Hammond to take a 3-0 lead.  The Pacers cut into the deficit in the bottom of the inning on a pair of RBI singles by Cummings and Drumming to make the score 3-2 in favor of CSU

The Pacers evened the score in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Bradley Key, his eighth of the season, tying the game at three apiece.  USCA couldn't get the go-ahead run in, stranding Hanks at third.

Neither team could produce any runs through the next two innings.  In the seventh, the Cougars had men on first and second with one out, but grounded into an inning ending double play. Clint Keown led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right field.  After a pair of fly outs to the outfield, Cougar pitcher Jason Burdette made a solid throw to first base, picking off Keown who had a decent lead to end the inning.

In the eighth, Pacer reliever, Mitch Hearne, retired the first batter, walked the next two and got the third batter to fly out.  Thomas went to his bullpen in favor of Cromer to close out the inning.  Cromer walked the first batter he faced to load the bases.  After a visit to the mound, Thomas brought in Chad McMurray to get the final out of the inning.  McMurray walked in the go-ahead run, giving CSU a 4-3 lead.  CSU took a 5-3 lead on a wild pitch.

After intentionally walking the next runner to force the out at any base, Thomas went to the bullpen once again in favor of Key.  The first batter Key faced, Groce, hit a three-run double to center field to give CSU an 8-3 lead.

USCA scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run blast by Tony Hanks.  Columbus State went to its bullpen in favor of Hurston Pittman for the save opportunity.  Burdette (6-1) went 7 1/3 innings, 11 hits, five earned runs and two strikeouts.  Hearne (5-1) picks up the loss, going 4 2/3, allowing three hits, two earned runs, five walks and one strikeout.

???????USCA will dip out of conference action for a game against North Greenville on Thursday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the friendly confines.  Next weekend, USCA will entertain perrenial power North Florida for a thee-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m.

Columbus St.  101 010 206   -   11  12  3 
USC Aiken       100 001 031   -    6   10  1
Columbus St.  102 000 05   -    8    8    3 
USC Aiken        002 100 02   -    5   13  2