Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--
Marc Joehnk's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the eighth-ranked USC Aiken Pacers (35-11) to the 4-1 win over Belmont Abbey (28-28) in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Pacers, winners of 10 of their last 11 non-conference games, knock off the Crusaders for the first time in four all-time meetings.
Belmont Abbey grabbed the 1-0 lead in the third inning when Ian Gibson's two-out single to center field plated Alex Udwari.
The Pacers were held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth.
Casey Derhak led off with a walk and later moved to third on a pair of outs recorded by the Crusaders.
Steven Kinney stepped up and slapped a two-out double just inside the bag at first to knot the score at 1-1. Joehnk then crushed his first career home run over the left field wall to make it 3-1.
Daniel Quartararo drew a one-out walk in the eighth and then advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by the pitcher, setting up
Robert Davis' RBI double to right center setting the margin at 4-1. The Pacers managed just six hits on the night, but three went for extra bases.
Zach Cooper,
Brandon Barenie, and Derhak had the other three hits for USCA.
Udwari led Belmont Abbey going 3-for-5 with one run scored. Ryan Sansevero was 2-for-4. The Crusaders out hit the Pacers 9-6, but stranded 11 men on base compared to three for USCA.
Jon Paul (4-2) worked 8.0 strong innings scattering nine hits and three walks, fanning two and allowing just the one run in the win.
Nick Wandless (8) tossed a perfect ninth for his eighth save of the season.
Michael Rue was solid in his 5.0 innings for BAC giving up just three hits and one walk. David Rue (4-8), however, was tagged for three earned runs on two hits and one walk in his 1.0 inning of relief in the loss.
USC Aiken will host North Greenville tomorrow at 6:30 PM at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Pacers, now 23-3 in non-conference games, will close out their non-conference schedule tomorrow. Belmont Abbey is finished with its regular season and will next compete in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) Tournament.
Belmont Abbey..........001 000 000 - 1 9 1
#8 USC Aiken..............000 003 01x - 4 6 2
E - Raymond(1); Quartararo(7); Joehnk(13). DP - Crusaders 2; Pacers 1. LOB - Crusaders 11; Pacers 3. 2B - Brown(23); Davis(17); Kinney(6). HR - Joehnk(1). SH - Quartararo(8); Wadowski(4). SB - Cooper(12).
