Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla. - In a contest that was moved up a few hours due to the threat of inclement weather in the area, USC Aiken could not overcome a late inning rally by defending NCAA Division II national champion Lynn in a 9-5 loss on Friday afternoon at the McCusker Sportsplex.
The loss drops the nationally-ranked Pacers to 1-4 on the 2010 season. Lynn is 3-1-1 on the year.
USC Aiken opened the game by scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC Salkehatchie) secured the run for the Pacers by singling through the right side to bring in Bill Rice (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County College), who had arrived on base with a single up the middle.
The Pacers would take a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Howard sacrificed in Alex Franklin (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta).
In the bottom of the sixth, Lynn would get one back to sit behind just one at 2-1 after Richie McVey doubled to left center field to plate Kyle Holloway.
The Pacers would not be able to score in the top of the seventh. Things changed entirely in the bottom of the seventh as the Fighting Knights were able to plate five runs in the frame to take a 6-2 lead.
The Pacers would get one back in the top of the eighth with shortstop Stephen Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) doubling to right center field to bring in a run. The Carmon double plated Gary Asbill (Batesburg, S.C./Batesburg-Leesville), who had opened the frame by hitting for a double of his own.
The Carmon RBI cut the Lynn lead in half to 6-3, but once again Lynn would step up, acquiring three runs in the bottom of the eighth to hold a 9-3 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning.
Once again, the feisty Pacers would not go down without a fight with Jowan Gray (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken) belting a two-run home run to left field.
The two-run home run pulled the Pacers back to within four at 9-5, but they would not be able to get any closer in the four-run loss.
Lynn finished with seven more hits than the Pacers in the contest at 15-8.
Preseason All-American and the 2009 Sunshine State Conference Male Athlete of the Year, Lynn's Dan Wright acquired the win from the hill, pitching 8.1 innings to collect the victory. Wright (2-0) fanned six and allowed eight hits. He allowed four earned runs.
USC Aiken's Clayton Knight (Goose Creek, S.C./Limestone) suffered the loss on the hill. Knight pitched six innings, fanning two. He allowed three hits and three earned runs.
No Pacer was able to secure multiple hits in the game, but Howard and Gray both ended their day with two RBIs each.
McVey guided the Lynn cause at the dish, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs.
USC Aiken and Lynn will play at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 before closing out the three-game set with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday, Feb. 14.
For those unable to make it to the games as always the USC Aiken Sports Information Department has you covered. Live stats will be available for Pacer fans who are unable to attend the games. The live stats can be accessed by clicking on the live stats link at www.pacersports.com.