Box Score AIKEN, SC--After squandering a 6-0 lead, #14 USC Aiken (2-1) was outscored 9-1 over the final six innings in a 9-7 upset at the hands of Belmont Abbey (1-3) on Tuesday night in non-conference baseball action at J.H. Satcher Field.

Crusaders second baseman Roy Torres slapped a double to center field plating Jared Luckhart and Derek Brown to break a 6-6 tie and make it 8-6 in the top of the seventh inning.  Josh Cobb's single in the ninth inning scored Brown to tack on an insurance run and set the final margin at 9-7.  

USC Aiken dominated through three innings.  Clint Keown stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Nick Bland to give the Pacers the game's first run.  A Demetrick Drumming ground out plated scored Justin Williams and USCA led 2-0 after one inning.  

Bradley Key (1) added fireworks in the fourth with a two-run blast to left field.  After pushing four across in the inning, the lead ballooned to 6-0.  

Belmont Abbey, however, responded with two in the fourth, three in the fifth, three in the seventh, and one in the ninth.  Omar Rivero,Chance Jarrell, Matt Waldron, and Brown each notched two hits for the Crusaders.  Bland was 0-for-2 but had three RBI.  

Paul Ferrell went 4.0 innings allowing four earned runs on four hits and one walk, striking out three in the no-decision.  Chad McMurray and Chris Wilson came on to work the next 2.0 innings and combine for one run on two hits.  Harold Sofield (0-1) gave up three earned runs on two hits and two walks in 0.2 innings of work in the loss.  Adam Green and Nick Wandless made pitchers five and six for the Pacers and held BAC to one more run over the final two innings.  

The first five hitters in the lineup for the Pacers in Clint Keown, Williams, Key, Drumming, and Ashley Farr combined for all of the team's offensive production (10-for-21), 10 hits, seven runs, and five RBI.  

Brandon Brooks struggled through 4.0 innings for BAC allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits and one walk in the no-decision. Richie Brandt, Brandon Russell, and Jaymie Russ combined to hold the Pacers to three hits and one run over the remaining 4.2 innings.  Russell (1-1) picked up the win while Russ (1) tallied the save.  

USC Aiken continues its season opening home stand on Friday when they host Carson-Newman at 6:00 PM in the first of a three-game series.  

Belmont Abbey    000    230    301    -    9    11    3
#14 USC Aiken      204    000    100    -    7    10    3