Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla. - Despite six home runs, including two by Travis Howard, USC Aiken could once again not overcome a strong offensive performance down the stretch from Lynn in an 8-7 loss to the defending national champions on Saturday afternoon at the McCusker Sportsplex.
For the second consecutive game in the series, USC Aiken was able to get things going early with two runs in the top of the first stanza. Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC Salkehatchie) secured the first two runs in the game on his first home run of the year. The two-run tater also scored David Vitko (Columbiana, Ohio/Youngstown State), who from his lead off position in the lineup had opened the game by acquiring an infield single off Lynn starting pitcher Tommy Kahnle.
The Pacers would blister two more home runs in the top of the third inning to hold a 4-0 advantage. Bill Rice (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester Community College) opened the frame by connecting on a Kahnle pitch and sending the ball into deep right field for USC Aiken's third run of the game. Freshman JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) then earned the Pacers the 4-0 lead when he also hit a Kahnle pitch over the right field fence.
The home runs were the second of the 2010 season for Rice and Loker.
The home runs kept coming in the bottom of the third inning with Chris Chavez hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame to cut the Pacer advantage to 4-2.
One inning later, Lynn's Johnny Broderick singled in a run for the Fighting Knights to cut the USC Aiken lead to just one at 4-3.
The Fighting Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to commander the lead in the game for the first time at 5-4. Einar Atencio scored the tying run in the inning when he was awarded home plate on a balk by USC Aiken starting pitcher Steven Spire (Swansea, S.C./Swansea). Dane Deristine then scored a run after an RBI double by Richie McVey. The Deristine run earned Lynn a 5-4 lead. They would add another in the bottom of the sixth to hold a 6-4 lead entering the top of the seventh inning.
The Pacers would post one run each in the top of the seventh and eighth innings. Transfer Noah Wethington (Rock Island, Ill./Blackhawk College) picked up the run for the Pacers in the top of the seventh with his first home run as a Pacer.
Pinch-hitting for designated hitter Tripp Warrick (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) in the top of the eighth, freshman Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) pulled the Pacers back even at 6-6 with his first home run as a Pacer.
The score 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth, Lynn scored two runs to take a lead it would never relinquish at 8-6.
Howard would homer once again in the top of the ninth inning to pull the Pacers back within one, but it would not be enough as the Pacers would not be able to get any closer in the 8-7 loss.
Lynn concluded Saturday's win over the Pacers with 15 hits, while the Pacers ended the game with 12 hits. Lynn had two errors in the contest, while USC Aiken had just one.
Howard finished with three hits in total in the game, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs in addition to the two dingers. He was one of two Pacers with multiple hits with Vitko going 3-for-5 with one run scored.
Atencio led the Fighting Knights with three hits. He secured one RBI and scored two runs.
In his first outing as a Pacer, Steven Owens (Sykesville, Md./University of Richmond) was saddled with the loss in relief of Spire. Owens pitched 1.2 innings, striking out one.
Lynn's Evan Ellison was awarded the win on the mound. Ellison was one of four pitchers on the day for Lynn, but he struck out four Pacers in pitching the final 2.1 innings.
USC Aiken (1-5) and Lynn (4-1-1) will close out their three-game set with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday, Feb. 14.
For those unable to make it to the game 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 game. The live stats can be accessed by clicking on the live stats link at www.pacersports.com.