Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – A five-run seventh inning would allow 29th-ranked Barry to earn a 5-4 victory Sunday and salvage a game in its three-game series loss to the 30th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team.
The Pacers obtained the first two games in the three-game set to claim the series at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. USC Aiken won game one, 6-1, on Friday before garnering a thrilling 8-6 13-inning victory in game two on Saturday.
The three-game series win leaves the Pacers having won both of their series on the 2011 season. USC Aiken (4-2) took two of three from Lincoln Memorial last weekend at the 'Bert.
The Pacers opened Sunday's loss to Barry (4-4) by plating a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, USC Aiken would add another on a Jowan Gray (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken) double to right centerfield that scored Jeffery Campbell (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist).
The complexion of the game completely changed in the top half of the next inning with Barry scoring all five of its runs. The Buccaneers kicked things off in the frame by belting back-to-back home runs off Pacer starter Derek Beasley (Harlem, Ga./Harlem). Dean Green hit the first dinger and then Matt Petty promptly followed suit by blasting a shot to left field.
Barry would add three more runs in the inning to acquire a 5-2 lead.
USC Aiken pulled itself back to within two in the bottom portion of the seventh when Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Josh Attaway (Lexington, S.C./Lexington), who had opened the inning by doubling to left centerfield.
The Pacer pitching staff would hold the Buccaneers scoreless over the next two innings to leave the Pacers with a chance in the bottom of the ninth.
The Pacers mounted a strong two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth to almost take the game. After claiming the two outs, USC Aiken was able to load the bases for Tripp Warrick (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta).
Warrick was able to draw a bases loaded walk to collect an RBI and bring home Stephen Bellantoni (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Sumter CC), who had opened the inning by being walked.
The bases still loaded with two outs, Gray then got a little too under a Matthew Garlock pitch in a fly out to left field to end the game.
USC Aiken finished Sunday's narrow loss to Barry out-hitting the Buccaneers 10-7.
Gray led the Pacers at the dish, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Spencer Wolfe (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) was 2-for-4 in the game for USC Aiken.
Barry catcher Luis Arrizurieta was the only Buccaneer to collect multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Barry starting pitcher Chris Witkowski (2-0) dealt seven innings in his win on the hill. Witkowski allowed seven hits and two earned runs. He struck out two.
Beasley (0-1) suffered his first loss of the year by pitching 6.2 innings of six-hit baseball. Beasley allowed two earned runs and fanned four.
Barry's Garlock claimed his first save of the year by hurling the final two innings.
The nationally-ranked Pacers will next play their first mid-week contest of the 2011 season against in-state rival Newberry at 4 p.m. at the 'Bert on Wednesday, Feb. 16. The game will be able to be followed live on USC Aiken's official athletic website at www.PacerSports.com.
