Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C.--Matthew Tripp's home run tied the game in the fourth and his RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave USC Aiken a 6-5 win over Francis Marion University in the second game of a Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader today at Roberto Hernandez Stadium on the USCA campus in Aiken, S.C. The Pacers (8-10, 4-5 PBC) won game one over the Patriots (9-9, 3-6 PBC), 7-6, on a Robert Davis RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

The Pacers jumped out to an early lead, in the first game of the doubleheader, with two runs in the first inning and took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. Tony Hanks and Tripp each knocked in a run, Hanks on a triple to right center and Tripp with a single down the left field line to give USCA a 5-1 advantage after six complete.

The Patriots tied the game with four runs in the seventh. Chris Newman drove in a run with a single up the middle. With two runners on base, Michael Ward sent a Nick Wandless pitch over the right-center field fence to knot the game at 5-5.

Davis put USC Aiken back out in front in the bottom half of the seventh with a single into right field scoring Zach Cooper from third. 

Ward's double down the left field line in the top of the ninth evened the score again, 6-6. In what turned out to be the Ward and Davis show in the last three innings, Davis came up in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and nobody out. The sophomore catcher sent the ball into shallow left field, driving in the winning run in the form of Daniel Quartararo.

Ward finished three-for-four with a run scored and four RBIs for Francis Marion. Davis went three-for-five with a run scored and three RBIs for USC Aiken. Cooper finished with three hits in three at bats and three runs scored.

In game two, Francis Marion jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning. Back-to-back RBI singles, one by Ward and one by Adam Dutka, followed a sacrifice fly by Jason Weaver and gave the Patriots the early advantage.

The Pacers began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third inning. A ground ball by Davis with the bases loaded and one out pushed across the first run of the game for USCA.

Tripp followed a leadoff walk to Hanks with a shot over the left field fence to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

The game remained tied into the ninth inning. A diving catch by Cooper ended the fifth inning with a runner stranded. Dutka sent a drive deep into left field in the top of the eighth, but Ashley Farr made the catch at the wall to hold the Patriots at bay.

Brandon McClure scored on a Pacer throwing error in the top of the ninth to break the 3-3 tie. In the bottom half of the inning, Bradley Key led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. After a sacrifice bunt, Key scored on an FMU error.

Both teams added a run in the 10th. The Patriots went ahead by one on an RBI single by Phil Shantz. The Pacers answered Francis Marion in the home half of the inning. With runners at second and third, Key's ground ball to the left side got past the third baseman and rolled into left field. Cooper scored easily from third but the potential winning run, Farr, was thrown out at the plate and the game moved into the 11th inning tied at 5-5.

Peden Rucker, who came on in relief in the sixth inning, retired the side in order in the top of the 11th. Rucker (3-1) allowed just one earned run, four hits and three walks in six innings of work.

Hanks laced a double into right field to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning. Tripp, the very next batter, sent his game winning single into right center field to give USCA the sweep. The junior finished the game with three hits in six at bats, a run scored and three RBIs.

Key also went three-for-six, scored a run and knocked one in. Dutka finished three-for-five with an RBI for Francis Marion. 

The Pacers will return to action on Monday with a non-conference game against Southern Indiana. The first pitch at Roberto Hernandez Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. 


GAME 1
Francis Marion .....010 000 401 - 6 12 3
USC Aiken ............201 002 101 - 7 12 2

Boxscore

GAME 2
Francis Marion ....300 000 001 10 - 5 13 4
USC Aiken ...........001 200 001 11 - 6 12 3