Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--Steven Kinney singled to right field driving in Brandon Barenie with the game winner in the bottom of the 14th inning as USC Aiken (5-1, 2-1 PBC) rallied for a most improbable come-back win 15-14 over USC Upstate (5-3, 1-2 PBC) in Peach Belt Conference baseball on Sunday evening. The five-hour and 23-minute, non rain-delayed, marathon was the longest game in Roberto Hernandez Stadium's short history, where USCA is now 5-1 in conference series.

The Pacers tied or set five school records and three conference marks. Four Pacers logged eight at-bats, tying a school and PBC record, while Marc Joehnk's five hits also tied a school record. Michael Wadowski's 20 putouts at first base is a new PBC mark and so is the team's 66 at bats, shattering the previous record of 58 also held by USCA. Lastly, the 28 USCA hits is four better than the previous school record but two shy of Kennesaw State's conference record. 

Trailing 12-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, USC Aiken seemed doomed to the series defeat. But the Pacers pushed nine across in the inning on five hits and two errors, sending 15 men to the plate. Robert Davis had the big blow in the inning with a bases loaded double to left center, driving in three to make it 12-10. 

Daniel Quartararo doubled home Joehnk in the eighth to cap the comeback 12-12, but the drama was just beginning. 

With runners at the corners with one out in the bottom of the 11th, USCA tried to squeeze home the winning run. Zach Cooper's bunt was fielded by the first baseman Eric Davis and his throw home nailed Darryl Pui for the out. 

In the top of the 12th, third baseman turned pitcher Kyle Bowley helped his own case with a solo shot over the left field wall to put Upstate in front 13-12. But the Pacers answered in the home half of the 12th with Barenie's RBI double to left center plating Joehnk to tie it 13-13. 

After all was quiet in the 13th, the Spartans again took the lead in the 14th on an RBI double to left center by Davis scoring Bret Hansen. Upstate was threatening for more with the bases loaded and one out, but George Gibson, the pitcher who had to hit as both teams had made changes several innings ago to lose the designated hitter's slot, grounded into the 1-2-3 inning-ending double play. 

Down 14-13 in the bottom of the 14th, Quartararo led off with a single. Davis smacked his third double of the game and then Barenie was intentionally walked to set up bases loaded with no outs. Pui's sacrifice fly to center knotted the game up at 14-14. Michael Wadowski then singled to right field, but Davis trying to score from second was thrown out in a collision at the plate. Kinney, however, dropped one in at right field just short of the diving glove of Brian Discordia to plate Barenie with the walk-off game winner. 

Joehnk was 5-for-7 for the Pacers while Quartararo and Davis each added four hits. 

Eric Davis led USC Upstate going 5-for-8 at the plate while John Caddell, Discordia, and Bowley each chipped in three hits. 

Casey Derhak (1-0) notched the win going 2.0 innings allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks. In total, eight Pacer pitchers saw the rubber. 

Gibson (0-1) received the loss with the blown save working 2.2 innings surrendering three earned runs on six hits and two walks. USC Upstate sent six hurlers to the mound. 

USC Aiken will hit the road for the first time in 2005 when they travel to face Columbus State next weekend, beginning with a PBC doubleheader on Saturday, February 19 at 1:00 PM. USC Upstate will host Anderson College in non-conference action on Wednesday, February 16 at 2:00 PM.

USC Upstate.....210 234 000 001 01 - 14 22 4
USC Aiken........000 110 910 001 02 - 15 28 1

Note: 2 outs, 2 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - Caddell; Bowley; Kohn; Goyea; Kowalchuk. DP - Spartans 2; Pacers 2. LOB - Spartans 14; Pacers 24. 2B - Caddell(4); Discordia(3); Hansen(7); Bowley(4); Davis(2); Vigder(2); Quartararo(3); Davis 3(4); Barenie(1). 3B - Discordia(2); Goyea(1); Kais(1); Derhak(4). HR - Bowley(1). HBP - Kais; Davis. SH - Wingo 2(2); Wadowski(2). SF - Joehnk(2); Pui(1). SB - Joehnk(3). CS - Derhak; Quartararo.