AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team rebounded from an 8-2 loss to Augusta State in game one by downing the Jaguars 8-4 in the second game in Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.

The doubleheader split means that USC Aiken (21-16, 5-12 PBC) and Augusta State (18-23, 9-11 PBC) will play the rubber game of their league series at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 10 at Jaguar Field.

After dropping the first game, USC Aiken rushed to an eventually insurmountable 6-0 lead in game two.

The Pacers scored one run in the top of the first inning before scoring four in the top of the fifth inning. USC Aiken would add another in the top of the sixth before Augusta State would plate three in the bottom of the inning to cut USC Aiken's lead in half.

USC Aiken would outscore Augusta State, 2-1, the rest of the way to earn the four-run win.

The Pacers out-hit Augusta State 15-9 overall in the second game.

Four Pacers powered by Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) led the Pacers in the second game. Miller was 4-for-5 with three RBIs and one run scored in the contest.

JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Jowan Gray (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken) and Stephen Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) both had two hits. Gray also had two RBIs. Carmon crossed the plate twice for the Pacers in the game.

Tristan Toorie led the Jaguars in game two with a 3-for-4 performance including an RBI and a run scored.

Thomas McLeod (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) dealt the first six innings to pick up his sixth win of the year on the hill. He is now 6-4 overall on the year.

Joah Evans (2-4) was forced out just 4.2 innings into the game to suffer the loss. He allowed five Pacer runs. 

Joe Tart (Charlotte, N.C./Marion Military) pitched the last three innings of the game to record his second save of the year.

Augusta State scored in the bottom of the first inning in game one and never looked back in its eventual 8-2 win.

Houston Taylor (Chesterfield, S.C./Cheraw) suffered his first loss of the year in the first game. The Pacer pitcher was on the mound for four innings. He is now 3-1 on the year.

Scott Shipman (6-2) earned the win on the hill in game one for Augusta State. He pitched seven innings, allowing one run and six hits.

Loker, Miller and Tyler Bourdo (Evans, Ga./Truett-McConnell) collected the top offensive performances for USC Aiken in game one. All had two of USC Aiken's nine hits.

Toorie was 3-for-4 for Augusta State in game one.