AIKEN, S.C. – Two big six-run innings propelled the 21st-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team as they rolled past the visiting Tigers of Salem International 20-3 at Roberto Hernandez Stadium Friday afternoon.

Heading into last weekend's series with Shippensburg, head coach Kenny Thomas challenged his team to finish the rest of month of February undefeated, and the victory Friday afternoon over the Tigers (0-7) pushes the Pacers (9-2) that much closer to achieving that task.

A slew of errors plagued both sides during the game, but USC Aiken still managed to register 16 hits in the contest while Salem International was held to eight hits to go along with their six errors.

Already up 2-1 in the fourth inning, the Pacers rolled to victory by posting six more runs in the bottom of the fourth followed by another four in the sixth, two in the seventh and six more runs to cap the win in the eighth inning to register the 20-3 victory.

After striking out seven batters and giving up just one unearned run in five innings on the mound for USC Aiken, Thomas McLeod (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) improved to 3-1. Taylor Peed (St. Leonard, Md./Calvert) came in during the final inning and fanned three batters to seal the deal for USC Aiken.

Irving de la Concho took the loss on the hill for head coach Tanner Hill to fall to 0-3.

Five Pacers produced two hits each with Kyle Rice and Chris Gaines leading the way. Rice (Augusta, Ga./Cross Creek) went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored while Gaines (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI of his own and two runs scored.

JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) and Stephen Bellantoni (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Sumter CC) each scored three runs while 11 different USC Aiken players scored in the effort.

The Pacers and Tigers will continue their first-ever three-game series tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 26 with a 1 p.m. game before the two will close out their meeting with another 1 p.m. game on Sunday, Feb. 27.