PEMBROKE, N.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team just missed in taking a three-game series from No. 7 UNC Pembroke with the Braves taking a 5-4 victory in the rubber game of the series on Sunday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.

Down 5-3 entering the eighth inning, USC Aiken (15-11, 2-7 PBC) was able to pull within one off the bat of Tripp Warrick (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta).

Warrick singled up the middle to score Kyle Rice (Augusta, Ga./Cross Creek) and set the score at 5-4.

The Pacers had the bases loaded next after a Tyler Bourdo (Evans, Ga./Truett-McConnell) single, but they would be unable to post another run in the frame.

UNC Pembroke (23-4, 7-4 PBC) would not add a run in the bottom of the eighth to leave USC Aiken with a chance to tie or take the lead in the top of the ninth.

With one out on the board, Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) got things going for the Pacers in the top of the ninth by doubling down the left field line. Miller would not be able to get home though with UNC Pembroke holding on for the one-run win.

Bourdo and Miller led the Pacers on Sunday with each going 2-for-4 at the plate.

UNC Pembroke had three players finish with two hits each with Jason Coker, Eitan Maoz and Brad Bridgeman all collecting two hits.

Brian Willis earned the victory on the hill in the game for UNC Pembroke by dealing the first five innings. He struck out four.

UNC Pembroke's Braxton Lewis pitched the final 1.2 innings to obtain his third save of the season.

USC Aiken starter Steven Spire (Swansea, S.C./Swansea) dropped to 2-2 on the year with his loss on Sunday. He pitched the first 4. 1 innings, striking out two. He was one of four Pacer pitchers on the day.

The Pacers will next travel to Newberry, S.C. for a 6 p.m. game on Tuesday, March 22 against the Newberry Wolves. The game will be able to be followed live on USC Aiken's official athletic website at www.PacerSports.com.