Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--Senior outfielder Brandon Barenie had a career day going 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in four runs as USC Aiken (3-0) held off a Lincoln Memorial (0-3) comeback bid for a 7-6 win in non-conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Pacers sweep the three-game series and down the Railsplitters for the fifth-straight time improving to 13-4 in the all-time series. 

USC Aiken opens the season 3-0 for just the second time in the school's NCAA history dating back to 1992. The Pacers opened 4-0 in 2000 en route to finishing 29-27 under then first-year head coach Kenny Thomas. 

The Pacers got on the board in the first following a lead off triple by Casey Derhak and an RBI single by Marc Joehnk. Derhak went 2-for-4 and tied a school record with two triples on the day. 

Bob Hatcher doubled home Barenie and Derhak's sacrifice fly brought in Hatcher as USCA made it 3-0 after two innings of play. 

Barenie delivered the big blast of the game in the third inning with runners on second and third and one out. The 5-10 senior from Evans, Ga. hit his first career home run as a Pacer, a three-run shot just inside the left field fair pole to make it 6-0. 

Lincoln Memorial rallied with two runs in the fourth on Matt O'Brien's double to left center. A sacrifice fly by Justin O'Brien and then a double steal trimmed the margin to 6-4 in the fifth. 

Barenie singled to right center scoring Robert Davis with what would amount to the game winning run, making it 7-4. 

Josh Kemph's bases loaded single in the sixth plated two and cut it to one at 7-6 after six, but neither team scored again. 

Kemph was 3-for-5 with one run scored and two RBI for LMU. Matt O'Brien also recorded two RBI going 1-for-4 while Derek Treece was 2-for-4. 

Joehnk finished 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Pacers while Ian Kowalchuk was 2-for-3 in his first start of the season. 

On the mound, freshman Mark Yarbrough (1-0) tossed 2.1 innings of effective relief allowing just one hit and not giving up a run for the win. Closer Nick Wandless (1) picked up his first save of the season striking out two of three batters faced in a perfect ninth. 

Railsplitter starter Wes Strader (0-1) was chased after 2.0 innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits in the loss. 

USC Aiken will continue its season-opening six-game home stand when the Pacers welcome rival USC Upstate (formerly USC Spartanburg) to town next weekend for a Peach Belt Conference series. Play begins on Saturday, February 12 with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM. 

Lincoln Memorial........000 222 000 - 6 8 2
USC Aiken....................123 010 00x - 7 12 2

E - H. Pelt(2); N. Henderson(1); Barenie(1); Kowalchuk(2). DP - Railsplitter 1; Pacers 1. LOB - Railsplitter 5; Pacers 10. 2B - M. O'Brien(1); Davis(1); Hatcher(1). 3B - Derhak 2(3). HR - Barenie(1). HBP - Davis; Pui; Cooper. SH - Pui(2). SF - J. O'Brien(1); Derhak(1). SB - J. Kemph(1); B. Williams(1); Joehnk(2); Quartararo(1); Cooper(1). CS - H. Pelt(1); Derhak(1).