Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--Senior right-hander
Steve Dunham was one strike away from his second Peach Belt Conference complete game shutout this season. Instead, Lander (29-26, 10-17 PBC) pushed across an unearned run in the ninth and had the game tying run 90 feet away, but the 16th ranked USC Aiken Pacers (38-16, 15-13 PBC) held on for the 2-1 win in the series opener on Wednesday night at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. It marks the first time this season that the Pacers won when scoring less than four runs (1-8).
The 38 wins is the most by a Pacer team since the 1993 squad went 46-18 in advancing all the way to the Division II World Series. USCA entered the game ranked fifth in the NCAA South Atlantic Region poll, but helped their postseason resume with a big series-opening win.
After a scoreless first inning, the Pacers got on the board in the second.
Steven Kinney drew a leadoff walk by Lander ace David Wilson and was sacrificed over by
Brandon Barenie. The sac hit by Barenie broke the single season school record with 11. After a lineout by
Ian Kowalchuk,
Zach Cooper slapped a single through the right side plating Kinney.
Cooper was a perfect 2-for-2 on the evening while Kowalchuk and
Robert Davis each had a hit for the Pacers.
With two out in the fourth, Barenie reached on a two-base throwing error by Bearcat shortstop Radley Raven. Kowalchuk beat out an infield single deep in the hole at second base to score Barenie and make it 2-0.
Defense might well have been the difference in the game as Lander committed five errors to the Pacers two. USCA also turned three double plays in the first four innings and All-Conference catcher
Robert Davis gunned down a runner trying to steal second.
In the ninth, Dunham sat down Kevin Jones and Jonathan Myers on a pair of fly outs. But with two strikes on pinch hitter Jeremy Ryals, Dunham let one get away inside and hit Ryals. The Bearcats' All-Conference designated hitter, David Walton, singled to left field, but Barenie misplayed it as it got by him all the way to the wall, scoring Ryals and putting Walton at third base. Ryan Roeder, however, grounded softly to
Daniel Quartararo at second base to end the game in only 1:53.
Myers had two of the five Lander hits while Walton, James Compo, and Ryan Brisby each had one.
Dunham (7-3) allowed just five hits over 9.0 innings, giving up the one unearned run, striking out six and not issuing a walk in the win.
Wilson (9-6) pitched a great game as well holding the league's top hitting team to just four hits and three walks, striking out two, but surrendering two runs in 8.0 innings in the loss.
USC Aiken and Lander will conclude their regular seasons tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 PM at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. This will be senior night for 11 Pacers playing in their final home game.
Lander...........................000 000 001 - 1 5 5
#16 USC Aiken..............010 100 00x - 2 4 2
E - Raven 2(18); Compo 2(6); Wilson; Barenie(4); Kowalchuk(10). DP - Pacers 3. LOB - Bearcats 3; Pacers 6. 2B - Compo(8); Brisby(14). HBP - Ryals; Roeder. SH - Barenie(11). CS - Myers(3); Pui(3); Barenie(6).
