Box Score NEWBERRY, SC--Indians third baseman Stuart Kay (Greer, S.C.) hit his second late homer in as many nights to pull Newberry back within a run of USC Aiken, but the Pacers' bullpen locked down a road victory 7-5 at Kirkland Field Tuesday night in NCAA baseball.

The Pacers (20-15) grabbed an early lead and never let it go, despite Newberry's attempted late heroics. Starting pitcher Bradley Key(Evans, Ga.) hit a leadoff single through the left side of the infield and scored an unearned run on a fielder's choice by shortstop Tony Hanks (Lexington, S.C.). Hanks eventually scored, also unearned, on a double by third baseman Casey Calhoun (Glasgow, Ky.) and the Pacers grabbed an early 2-0 lead.

Both runs came on hard luck loser Pete Stuppiello (Gilbert, S.C.) who lost his only start of the season so far (3-1). The freshman earned only four of the seven runs he allowed on 10 hits and a walk, while striking out one.

Newberry scored a run in the bottom of the second on a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly by right fielder Gene Dotson (Savannah, Ga.), who drove in Kay to cut the lead in half.

Stuppiello got into trouble in the fourth, as the Pacers managed four hits, including a two-run double by Calhoun to jump out to a 5-1 margin. Aiken added another unearned run in the fifth on a double steal and subsequent Newberry error to score centerfielder Clint Keown (Evansville, IN).

The Indians got four runs back in the bottom of the sixth. The first came on a two base throwing error and the last three came on Kay's blast over the left field fence. Kay now has eight RBI for the week, putting him at a South Atlantic Conference-leading 35 this season. He has had three consecutive multi-hit games and a homer in each of his last two contests during this six-game hitting streak.

???????USCA put up one more run in the seventh and sent away nine of the next Newberry hitters to pull out the road win. Only Dotson reached base on a single, but he was erased on a double play as the Pacers faced the minimum in the final three and one-third innings.

SAC Pitcher of the Week Tyson Azevedo (Charleston, S.C.) threw two and one-third scoreless relief innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while punching out two Pacers.

Key got his first win of the season (1-1). He threw for four innings as the designated starter, allowing only one run on two hits and no walks. He struck out four Indians.

Right-hander Mike Pomaville (Sumter, S.C.) shut things down for the Pacers. He faced six batters in two innings, striking out three if the final four he saw in the contest to get his second save of the year.

USC Aiken heads back into Peach Belt Conference play with a Saturday doubleheader at ninth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University at noon and a Sunday getaway game at 1 p.m. Newberry stays at home this week, with a non-conference rematch of Monday night as the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets return for a Thursday 3 p.m. tilt. Newberry returns to SAC play on Saturday with a noon home twinbill against Catawba College.

USC Aiken        020    310    100    -    7    13    1
Newberry          010    004    000    -    5      4    2