Box Score AIKEN, S.C. - Sixth-ranked USC Aiken emphatically claimed its first win of the 2010 campaign on Sunday afternoon with a 14-5 victory over Lincoln Memorial at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Pacers dropped both games of the series prior to Sunday's victory to suffer the series loss, but USC Aiken responded on Sunday by putting on an offensive performance that featured 14 hits.
USC Aiken jumped out to an early 6-0 advantage. The Pacers scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Gary Asbill (Batesburg, S.C./Batesburg-Leesville) was walked with the bases loaded. The walk brought in Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC Salkehatchie), who had opened things offensively in the inning by lacing a single up the middle.
Things really came together for the Pacer offense in the bottom of the third inning with five runs. Nick Aranas (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) obtained the first run of the inning for the Pacers when he singled in David Vitko (Columbiana, Ohio /Youngstown State) to give the Pacers a 2-0 lead.
Aranas, who was able to advance to second on the throw to try and get Howard at home on the second run, was then able to score on the first of three errors in the game by the Lincoln Memorial third baseman.
Bill Rice (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County College) a few batters later tripled down the right field line to bring in two more runs and net the Pacers a 5-0 lead. The Pacers claimed the 6-0 advantage when Asbill captured an infield single to bring in Rice.
Lincoln Memorial would cut the Pacer advantage in half to 6-3 in the top of the fourth with three runs of their own. Eric Kitts got things going for the Railsplitters in the top half of the fourth by hitting a home run to right field off Pacer starting pitcher Jason Cochcroft (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert).
USC Aiken responded again though in the bottom half of the fourth inning by collecting their second straight five-run inning. Howard started off things by doubling down the left field line to bring in Vitko, who had walked to commence the inning. Freshman JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) continued the strong start to his Pacer career by then bringing in Howard with a single to right field.
Rice a few batters later brought in the final three runs in the inning on his first home run as a Pacer. The tater by Rice gave the Pacers a hefty 11-3 lead. The Railsplitters would manage to obtain two more runs, but the Pacer offense would one up them once again to the tune of three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Reigning Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Stephen Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) picked up the first two RBIs of the inning by singling in Rice and Noah Wethington (Rock Island, Ill./Blackhawk College).
True freshman Tripp Warrick then picked up the first RBI of his career in his first at-bat as a Pacer to leave the Pacers with 14 runs on the day. Pinch-hitting for Vitko, Warrick singled to left field to bring in Asbill.
Rice was the star of the day for the Pacers, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Rice was just one double shy of the cycle in the game as he had a triple, a home run and a single.
Four Pacers ended the afternoon with multiple hits with Howard, Vitko and Loker each collecting two hits each in addition to Rice's three hits.
Juan Alvarez and Kitts led the Railsplitters in their loss with each finishing with two hits. Kitts was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Freshman Ryan Milewski (West Boylston, Mass./West Boylston) was the winning pitcher. Milewski pitched two innings and a third, striking out two. He allowed no hits and only allowed one runner on base during his time on the hill.
Brandon Cowan suffered the loss for the Railsplitters. He gave up seven hits and seven runs (three earned) in three innings pitched.
USC Aiken will next hit the road for the first time in the 2010 campaign with a four-game road trip to the Sunshine State. The Pacers' foray into Florida will begin on Thursday, Feb. 11 with a 2 p.m. contest against Florida Tech in Melbourne, Fla.
USC Aiken will close out its Florida road trip with a three-game set with defending NCAA Division II national champion Lynn in Boca Raton, Fla. The Pacers and Fighting Knights will commence the three-game series with a 3 p.m. game on Friday, Feb. 12. The two 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.