AIKEN, S.C. – It was a tale of two different games Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium as the 16th-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team split their Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with instate rival No. 17 Francis Marion. The Pacers (13-4, 1-2 PBC) could do no wrong in the first game, claiming the contest 10-2, while they struggled to find momentum in the rubber game of the series, dropping that game 8-5 to the Patriots (13-6, 2-1 PBC).

USC Aiken eased out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of the first game before slowly extending the lead off two one-run innings followed by two more late three-run innings. The Pacer bats remained solid throughout the game as USC Aiken accrued 14 hits.

The Patriots were unable to show the prowess on the diamond they did just the day before, garnering just two runs in the contest off seven hits.

Kyle Rice and Teddy Leverett led USC Aiken from the plate in the first game with both crossing the dish twice. Rice (Augusta, Ga./Cross Creek) was 3-for-5 and added two RBIs to his two runs scored while Leverett (Evans, Ga./Truett-McConnell) went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Jason Cochcroft (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert) claimed the victory on the mound for USC Aiken to improve to 2-0 in 2011 after striking out five batters in six and a third innings of work.

Joe Wagstaff was dealt the loss after giving up three runs and three hits in just two and third innings. He is now 3-2 for 2011.

The second game was a different story for both squads as the Patriots found something they liked early, pushing two runs across in the first inning.

USC Aiken attempted to keep the game close, closing to within one run in the bottom of the third inning at 3-2, but the Francis Marion would prevail adding two runs in the fourth and another three in the fifth inning to hold an 8-2 lead.

The Pacers were able to pull out three more runs in the seventh, but that was all they could muster as the Patriots held on to claim the rubber game and series for both teams' league opening series.

Francis Marion was led in the second game by Buddy Sosnoskie who was a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Michael Wilson also added a pair of runs in the effort as he went 3-for-5.

Despite dropping the second game and struggling at times at the plate, the Pacers had a couple bright spots as J.J. Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with one run scored. Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) went 3-for-4 with a couple RBIs.

Freshman Derek Beasley (Harlem, Ga./Harlem) gave up his second decision of the year in the second game to fall to 2-2 while Francis Marion's Phillip Mozingo improved to 3-1 for the season after fanning seven batters.

USC Aiken will stay at home for a pair of mid-week games on Tusday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 9 against South Atlantic foe Catawba. The Indians and Pacers will get things started both evenings at 6 p.m.