Box Score AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken (15-5) erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a 2-2 game and post the 7-5 win over Catawba (14-9) in non-conference baseball action on Thursday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The 12th-ranked Pacers concluded their 20-game season-opening homestand by salvaging the final game of their three-game set with the Indians.
The meat of the order did the damage for the Pacers as hitters two through five went 9-for-16 with seven RBI and four runs scored.
Ken Raborn got USC Aiken out to the early 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single to left field scoring
Darryl Pui from third. Raborn finished 2-for-4.
Catawba answered in the top of the second on one-out single through the left side by Zeb Link plating Zach Evans to knot the game at 1-1.
Jonathan Bolt (2-0) tossed 5.2 innings scattering seven hits and two walks, allowing four earned runs and striking out eight in the win. Bolt fanned five batters in the opening two innings including striking out the side in the second.
Chris Sheehan doubled to left center in the third to drive home
Brad Johnson to tie it at 2-2. Sheehan finished 3-for-4 with two RBI while Johnson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Three big hits resulted in the five-run fourth for the Pacers. A double down the right field line by Johnson plated two runs. Then
Chad Jacobsen (4) blasted a two-run shot over the wall in left only to see Sheehan (6) go back-to-back with Jacobsen as he planted a solo shot over the fence in right.
Jacobsen broke out of a mini 0-for-11 slump with a 2-for-5 night.
Jerry Sands (6) homered to lead off the sixth, but USC Aiken closed out the 7-5 win.
Gary Lee (4) worked a perfect ninth for the save.
Ryan Query and Chad Baker each had two hits and a run scored for the Indians.
On the mound, Lee Dupre (1-1) relieved Blake Ketner in the third inning, surrendering five earned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings in the loss for Catawba.
USC Aiken will play its first road game of the season when the Pacers travel to Pembroke, N.C. for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series with UNC Pembroke beginning Saturday, March 10 at 1:00 PM.
Catawba.................011 002 010 - 5 9 1
#12 USC Aiken.......101 500 00x - 7 12 1
E - Lyerly(8); Raborn(8). DP - Indians 1. LOB - Indians 7; Pacers 8. 2B - Johnson(2); Sheehan(5). HR - Sands(6); Jacobsen(4); Sheehan(6). HBP - Thomas; Joehnk. SH - Johnson(1). SB - Thomas 2(12); Evans 2(2); Z.Link(3); Johnson(1). CS - Thomas(2); Z.Link(2)
