AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team (19-14, 4-10 PBC) split their Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Roberto Hernandez Stadium Saturday afternoon against Flagler College (13-19, 4-10 PBC). The Saints claimed the first game 6-5 before the Pacers were able to rebound and claim the second game 5-4.

The Pacers and Saints will contest the rubber game of their weekend series tomorrow, Sunday, April 3. Action at the 'Bert is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.

USC Aiken started off the first game in usual form by going up early in the game. The Pacers tallied a 3-0 lead in the second inning to control the early going of the game. USC Aiken got things going when Dylan Durham (Trenton, S.C./Strom Thurmond) walked to load the sacks with Tripp Warrick (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) on third and Tyler Bourdo (Evans, Ga./Truett-McConnell) at second.

Teddy Leverett (Evans, Ga./Truett-McConnell) capitalized on the two-out situation, tallying two RBIs with a single to right-center field that scored Warrick and Bourdo. Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) then knocked in Durham with a single through the left side to put USC Aiken up 3-0.

The Pacers were able to extend their lead to four with another run in the bottom of the third inning when JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) scored off Bourdo's single to center field.

However, the Saints regrouped in the fourth inning and were able to score four runs of their own off four hits and two USC Aiken errors to tie the game at four-all.

Loker gave the Pacers a one-run edge in the bottom of the seventh inning with a one-run home run, but it would not be enough of a cushion to keep Flagler down as the Saints answered in the next inning with two runs of their own to take their first lead of the contest. The Saints did not lead until the end of the game, but after they took the lead in the eighth, they never relinquished to claim the first game of the doubleheader 6-5.

Leverett led the first game with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate coupled with two RBIs while Loker went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Jeremy Smith (Minter, Ala./Southern Union) suffered the loss in game one for the Pacers to fall to 3-2 for the year while Jonathan Armold improved to 3-5 with the winning performance on the mound for the Saints.

Multiple-run innings proved to be the norm in the second game as well for both sides with USC Aiken leading off with a pair of runs scored in the first inning. This time it was shortstop Stephen Carmon who spurred the Pacers' drive when he chopped a hit up the middle to score Leverett. Kyle Rice (Augusta, Ga./Cross Creek) capped the first inning by scoring Carmon with a similar shot up the middle.

However, the Pacers' lead would not last long as the Saints posted four runs in the top of the third inning to claim a 4-2 lead.

The lead would change hands once again as Josh Attaway (Lexington, S.C./Lexington), Miller and Carmon all scored in the fourth inning to put the Pacers up 5-4.

Neither team posted runs over the final five innings as USC Aiken was able to secure the game-two win 5-4.

Three Pacers secured multiple hits in the second contest led once again by Leverett who was a perfect 4-for-4 in the outing with one run scored. Carmon was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs while Rice went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Thomas McLeod (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) claimed the win on the hill for USC Aiken striking out five batters in seven innings of work. He improves to one over .500 for the year at 5-4 while Micah Kellogg falls to 1-3 for Flagler in his loss on the hill.