Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AIKEN, S.C.--USC Upstate (20-14, 7-10 PBC) scored two runs in their last at-bats in each game of their Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader with ninth-ranked USC Aiken (23-8, 11-3 PBC) to sweep the series opening twinbill on Saturday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Spartans won game one 8-6 and claimed the nightcap 7-5. The losses snap the Pacers' six-game win streak and knock USCA out of first place in the PBC standings, now one-game behind #3 Georgia College & State.(PHOTO COURTESY OF EDDIE SHERRER)

In game one, the Pacers took a 6-4 lead into the eighth inning before USC Upstate got to reliever Mark Yarbrough for two runs on three hits to tie the game at 6-6. Bret Story drove an 0-1 pitch to right field, plating Andrew Runion with the game-tying run with two outs.

Following a quiet bottom of the eighth, Bret Hansen belted a one-out, bases loaded single to center field, scoring Andrew Maddox and Brian Dempsey with the game-winning runs. USC Aiken is now 121-5 when leading after seven innings over the past five seasons. 

Hansen finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Spartans while Dempsey and Maddox combined to score five of the team's eight runs. Every batter in the USC Upstate line-up had a hit. 

A three-run second inning had the Pacers in control early 4-0, but the offense managed just two runs and three hits over the final 7.0 innings as the Spartans chipped away at the lead. 

Ben Tankersley delivered an RBI single to left field with runners at second and third and two outs as the big blow in the second inning. He finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases. Josh Eachues added a 2-for-4 day with two RBI. 

Scott Wandless tossed 7.0 innings on the hill for the Pacers, letting up four earned runs on seven hits and five walks, fanning eight in the no decision. Adam Lovelace (1-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering two earned runs in two batters faced in the ninth. 

Dennis McCraney (3-1) came on in the eighth to get the only batter he faced in earning the win. Justin Hayes (1) worked a hitless ninth for his first save. 

In game two, the Pacers bolted to a five-run lead after one inning, but again the Spartans rallied back, pushing across two in the sixth to tie the game and two more in the seventh for the win. 

Matt Spivey had the big hit in the bottom of the first, a two-RBI single through the left side to make it 5-0. After three hits in the frame, however, Tim Fournier (2-0) came on and shut down USC Aiken's offense, holding the Pacers to no runs and one hit over the final 6.0 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out one in the win. 

Jon Paul (5-3) had his five-game win streak snapped allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits and two walks, fanning two in 7.0 innings in the complete-game loss. 

With one out in the seventh, Brian Dempsey picked a fine time for his first double of the season, dropping one in down the left field line scoring Eric Guillen and Hansen with the game-winning runs. 

Dempsey finished 2-for-4 with three RBI while Guillen added a 2-for-4 day with two more RBI. The Spartans again had balance with eight of nine batters in the line-up registering at least one hit. 

Darryl Pui, Tankersley, Chris Sheehan, and Spivey had the hits for the Pacers. 

USC Aiken and USC Upstate will play the final game of their series tomorrow at 1:00 PM at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Spartans have swept the Pacers just one time in 15 series meetings dating back to 1992 (that coming in 2004 in Spartanburg). 

GAME ONE
USC Upstate.......002 100 122 - 8 11 0
#9 USC Aiken.....130 010 100 - 6 7 0

DP - Pacers 1. LOB - Spartans 14; Pacers 9. 2B - Jacobsen(13); Eachues(3). HBP - Dempsey; Rollins; Jacobsen. SH - Maddox(9); Sheehan(1); Spivey(5). SF - Caddell(4). SB - Pui(10); Tankersley 2(12).
BOXSCORE

GAME TWO
USC Upstate......201 002 2 - 7 12 1
#9 USC Aiken....500 000 0 - 5 4 1

E - Guillen(3); Spivey(7). DP - Pacers 2. LOB - Spartans 6. 2B - Dempsey(1); Bowley(6). HBP - Colecchi; Jacobsen. SH - Runion(2); Colecchi(3). SB - Caddell(7). CS - Pui(3); Spivey(3).