AIKEN, S.C. – The 16th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 17-2 victory over Benedict at Roberto Hernandez Stadium on Wednesday evening.

USC Aiken (12-2) has now won eight straight overall. They are 6-0 all-time against Benedict after Wednesday's victory.

In a game that featured 14 pitchers, USC Aiken out-hit the visiting Tigers, 10-5. Benedict (5-5) had six errors in the contest.

USC Aiken had two players finish with multiple hits in the victory over Benedict on Wednesday evening with Pacer first baseman JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) leading the way with a 2-for-3 performance at the dish.

Loker picked up two RBIs and scored a run in the game.

USC Aiken third baseman Spencer Wolfe (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) scored three runs in the game to go along with his two hits. He also had an RBI.

In total in the contest, eight Pacers produced at least a hit.

Brandon Gipson was the top producer for the Tigers, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored.

Benedict utilized eight pitchers in the contest, while USC Aiken had six players see time on the mound.

Houston Taylor (Chesterfield, S.C./Cheraw) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Steven Spire (Swansea, S.C./Swansea) to capture the victory. Taylor is now 2-0 on the year.

Benedict's Luis Cotto earned the loss on the hill. The Pacers forced him out of the contest just two-thirds of an inning into the game.

USC Aiken will next open Peach Belt Conference play with a key PBC East Division showdown with No. 17 Francis Marion at the 'Bert. The pivotal early three-game set will begin with a 3 p.m. game on Saturday, March. 5. The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 6. The twinbill will get underway at 1 p.m.