Box Score AIKEN, SC--USC Aiken (4-7, 2-4 PBC) scored seven unanswered runs over the final three innings to post a 9-5 come-from-behind win over Columbus State (4-8, 3-3 PBC) in Peach Belt Conference baseball on Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. USCA wins the first ever PBC series played at the new stadium 2-1 over the Cougars.
Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning,
Tony Hanks doubled off the top of the left field wall to score
Bradley Key from first base to make it 5-3 and give USCA its first run since the second inning. Hanks had a break out game for the Pacers going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI. Key was 2-for-5 with a double a three runs scored.
With a 3-2 count, two on, and two outs,
Brandon Barenie punched one back up the middle to score Hanks from second and slice the lead to 5-4.
Ashley Farr stepped to the plate and hit a rocket at the first baseman, Billy Howard, who leaped in the air and snared the sure extra base hit to end the inning.
Howard led the Cougars offensively going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Larry Pittmon added a 2-for-4 day in the clean-up spot with two doubles and one RBI.
In the seventh inning,
Chris Sheehan drew a one out walk and Key doubled down the left field line to set up second and third with one out. After Hanks drew a walk, second baseman David Brown fielded
Derek Gordon's routine grounder but threw it into left field while trying to start the inning-ending double play. Key and Sheehan scored on the play as the Pacers regained the lead 6-5.
Hanks and
Zach Cooper had a pair of RBI singles in the eighth as another Cougar miscue led to three more unearned runs to make it 9-5.
CSU scored in the first inning on an RBI double to center field by Pittmon. They added on two more in the fourth on a wild pitch and a Bryan Wilson sacrifice fly. The lone Pacer error and an RBI single by Howard in the fifth plated two more and extended the Cougar lead to the largest of the game, 5-2.
Hanks and
Daniel Quartararo had RBI doubles in the second inning as the Pacers got on the board. Quartararo extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
CSU had two on with one out in the ninth inning, but Garrett Groce grounded into a 5-3 double play to end the game. USCA turned four double plays on the afternoon.
Nick Wandless worked 5.1 innings allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits and two walks, striking out three in the no decision. Freshman lefthander
Peden Rucker (2-0) came on to toss the final 3.2 innings, not allowing a run on three hits and two walks, striking out one in the win.
Hurston Pittman was chased after 4.0 innings for CSU giving up two earned runs on six hits and one walk, striking out three. Judson Bradley (0-1) surrendered six runs, two earned, on five hits and four walks in 3.1 innings of work in the loss.
USC Aiken will continue its 14-game home stand with the start of a two-game series with Lindsey Wilson College on Wednesday, February 25 at 4:00 PM. Columbus State plays at Montevallo on Tuesday, February 24 at 4:00 PM.
Columbus State..........100 220 000 - 5 11 2
USC Aiken....................020 002 23x - 9 12 1
