Box Score AIKEN, SC--
Daniel Quartararo had a career-night at the plate going 4-for-6 with a home run and six RBI as the USC Aiken Pacers (24-18) knocked off the Claflin University Panthers (21-21) 11-2 in non-conference baseball action on a blustery Tuesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
It was the eighth-straight home win for USCA, and the Pacers' 15th victory in their last 17 games at the friendly confines. Quartararo extended his hitting streak to 19 games.
After Quartararo led off the bottom of the first with a single back up the middle,
Ashley Farr and
Robert Davis drew a pair of one-out walks to load the bases.
Bradley Key's RBI ground out plated Quartararo, but a throwing error on the Panthers' first baseman allowed Farr to come home as well and make it 2-0.
Tony Hanks doubled down the left field line to cap the inning at 3-0.
Quartararo and Davis added a pair of RBI singles in the second to increase the margin to 5-0. But a big four-run third inning really blew the game open. After a sacrifice fly by Hatcher, Quartararo (3) belted a three-run blast over the right field wall to make it 9-0.
Another Quartararo single to right field in the fourth plated two more Pacer runs and made it 11-0. An RBI single by Neil Butler for Claflin in the eighth set the final margin at 11-2.
Hanks finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and one RBI.
Casey Calhoun made the most of his start at third base going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Key, serving as the designated hitter, went 1-for-5 with his 18th double of the season, giving him 52 for his career and tying Tavis Cummings' (1999-2002) school mark. Farr and Davis combined to go 2-for-4 but drew five total walks.
T.K. Morgan managed two of the Panthers' five hits on the evening going 2-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases. Butler was 1-for-4 with the only two RBI.
Making his first start as a Pacer on the mound, newcomer
Randy Stewart (2-0) tossed 5.0 innings of three-hit, shutout baseball, walking three and fanning three in the win.
Chris Wilson worked 3.0 innings of relief allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks, striking out three.
Trey Williams pitched the ninth, walking one and striking out two.
Jaime Aimar (0-3) was chased after 2.1 innings of work letting up nine runs, six earned, on eight hits and three walks in the loss. DeMece Williams tossed 5.2 strong innings of relief holding the Pacers to a pair of unearned runs on six hits and four walks, striking out six.
USC Aiken will host Newberry College on Wednesday at 6:30 PM at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
Claflin...................000 000 020 - 2 5 3
USC Aiken...........324 200 00x - 11 14 2
E - T. Williams; Benjamin; N. Butler; Quartararo; Calhoun. LOB - Panthers 12; Pacers 11. 2B - J. Williams(3); Key(18); Hanks 2(9). HR - Quartararo(3). SF - Hatcher(2). SB - Morgan 2(2); D. Davis(1); Hatcher(1).
