Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C.--The comeback kids struck again on Saturday as the 13th ranked USC Aiken Pacers (34-11, 13-8 PBC) rallied from a two-run deficit in their final at bats to knock off perennial power #12 Kennesaw State (26-18, 15-9 PBC) 8-7 in game two of a Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Owls won game one 4-3, but with the game two win, the Pacers notch just their second-ever series win over KSU in 12 tries.
Entering the weekend series, USCA had dropped 12-straight games to the Owls, but with two wins in three games, the Pacers improve to 12-6 versus Top 30 teams this season and have won nine of their last 12 conference contests. Splitting the one-run games on Saturday, USCA is now 14-3 in one-run games and improve to 29-1 when scoring six or more runs.
Trailing 7-5 entering the bottom of the seventh in game two,
Casey Derhak and
Daniel Quartararo both beat out a pair of infield singles. After
Robert Davis popped out to the shortstop,
Steven Kinney singled to right field scoring Derhak.
Marc Joehnk's RBI ground out tied the game at 7-7. But with two outs, the cardiac Pacers weren't done yet.
Darryl Pui, who earlier in the game committed a three-base error in right field allowing two runs to score, redeemed himself in a big way with the walk-off RBI single to right center giving USCA the crucial 8-7 win.
Pui went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored while
Brandon Barenie and
Zach Cooper also were 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Jay Morrow led the way for the Owls going 3-for-4 with one RBI. Jeremy Brotherton, Kevin Gergel, and Andy Hudson each had two hits for KSU.
On the mound,
Nick Wandless (4-0) came on in the top of the seventh with two outs and the bases loaded and struck out the only batter he faced for the win.
Bubba Blalock (4-2) entered the weekend unblemished and leading the PBC in ERA, but suffered his second loss in as many days allowing three earned runs on five hits in 0.2 of an inning.
In game one, the Pacers fell just short in another comeback bid losing 4-3. Davis doubled down the left field line in the first inning plating Derhak to give USCA its only lead of the game 1-0. Davis went 4-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Derhak finished 2-for-4.
The Pacers held the 1-0 lead until the top of the fifth when Hudson's sac fly tied the game up at 1-1. Kennesaw State tacked on one more in the seventh and two in the ninth to take control 4-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, however, Davis, Kinney, and Joehnk led off with three straight singles. Barenie's RBI ground out cut the deficit to two.
Michael Wadowski singled in Kinney to make it 4-3, but Pui and Cooper grounded out to end the game. Kinney went 3-for-4.
Brotherton, Hendrix, and Colton each had two hits for the Owls.
Peden Rucker (4-2) scattered nine hits over 8.2 innings allowing four runs, three earned, striking out seven in the loss.
Ryan Mitchell got the only batter he faced to close the ninth.
Ben Sosebee (6-2) surrendered three earned runs on 11 hits, striking out three in the win for Kennesaw State. Kyle Muschara (2) notched the save working the ninth.
USC Aiken will host Belmont Abbey College on Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30 PM at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
GAME ONE
#12 Kennesaw State........000 010 102 - 4 9 0
#13 USC Aiken..................100 000 002 - 3 12 1
E - Quartararo(6). DP - Owls 1. LOB - Owls 4; Pacers 6. 2B - Perry; Colton; Derhak(12); Davis(16); Kinney(5). HBP - Hudson. SH - Gergel; Apple. SF - Hudson. CS - Brotherton; Colton.
