Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The 27th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team scored six runs in its final two at-bats to acquire a 6-2 victory over Shippensburg on Saturday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
USC Aiken (7-2) was down 2-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning.
Kyle Rice (Augusta, Ga./Cross Creek) got things going in the bottom half of the seventh by lacing a double down the left field line. He was then pinch ran for by Zack Kilday (Lilburn, Ga./South Georgia).
A couple batters later, USC Aiken had two runners in scoring position with Jowan Gray (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken), who walked, and Kilday moved over by a sacrifice bunt by Josh Attaway (Lexington, S.C./Lexington).
USC Aiken leadoff hitter Stephen Bellantoni (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Sumter CC) then singled through the right side to bring the two runners home and even the game at 2-2. Bellantoni promptly stole second to put another Pacer in scoring position.
The Pacers obtained their first lead of the game next when Stephen Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) singled in Bellantoni for a 3-2 Pacer advantage.
The Pacer onslaught was not done just yet with Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) doubling in Carmon to place the Pacers ahead by two at 4-2.
After the Pacers held Shippensburg (0-8) scoreless in the top of the eighth, USC Aiken added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the frame. Bellantoni and Carmon collected the RBIs for the Pacers in the inning.
The reigning Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week, Carmon continued his tear of late at the dish in Saturday's win over Shippensburg, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored. Carmon, who was 3-for-3 in USC Aiken's game one win over Shippensburg on Friday, enters the final game of the three-game set on Sunday between USC Aiken and Shippensburg presently 7-for-8 at the plate through two games.
Three Pacers recorded multiple hits in total with Bellantoni and Rice each claiming two hits in the game. Bellantoni was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Rice was 2-for-3.
Sam Phillips and Ben Miller led the Raider charge with two hits each.
USC Aiken finished the game out-hitting Shippensburg, 11-6.
Pacer reliever Jeremy Smith (Minter, Ala./Southern Union CC) earned the win for USC Aiken in relief of starter Jason Cochcroft (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert).
Smith pitched five innings, allowing just one hit. He fanned two. He is now 2-0 on the year.
Shippensburg's Ted Williams was shackled with the loss on the hill for the Raiders. Williams pitched 6.1 innings, allowing four earned runs and eight hits.
By virtue of winning the first two games of the three-game series, USC Aiken has now claimed all three of its three-game sets in the young 2011 season. USC Aiken has already taken two of three from Lincoln Memorial and Barry at the 'Bert.
The Pacers have the opportunity for their first three-game sweep of 2011 in Sunday's three-game series finale at 1 p.m.
