Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – Four University of South Carolina Aiken pitchers allowed only two hits and the nationally 14th-ranked Pacers rolled to an 8-0 win over Limestone on Wednesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
Thomas McLeod (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) started the game on the hill for USC Aiken (16-6), fanning nine in his six innings on the mound. Sam Daniel (Evans, Ga./Greenbrier) then followed suit by striking out two in his one inning on the mound.
Abram Cartledge (Thomson, Ga./Thomson) pitched a scoreless eighth, fanning two. Jake Padgett (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert) then closed out the game by allowing no hits in the top of the ninth. He struck out one Saint.
USC Aiken overall out-hit Limestone, 10-2, in the contest. Only one Limestone (8-16) batter was able to collect a hit with Chad Balderman claiming both of the Limestone hits.
Three Pacers recorded multiple hits with Nick Aranas (Lexington, S.C./Lexington), Tyler Bourdo (Evans, Ga./Truett-McConnell College) and Ty Barkell (Denver, Colo./Palmer Ridge) all ending their efforts with two hits.
Both Aranas and Bourdo went deep in the contest.
The score remained 0-0 until the bottom of the third stanza when USC Aiken posted a four-spot on the scoreboard. Josh Miller acquired three of the four runs for USC Aiken by doubling down the left field line to plate three with the bases loaded. Bourdo then singled in Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) for the fourth run of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Bourdo blasted a two-run home run to give the Pacers a 6-0 lead.
USC Aiken would close out its scoring in the game in the bottom of the seventh when Aranas belted a two-run tater.
McLeod improved to 1-0 on the year with his victory on the hill.
Limestone's Matt Crisp allowed seven hits and six earned runs in his loss on the mound for the Saints.
The Pacers will next close out their week with a three-game home league series with Georgia Southwestern.
The three-game league set will commence with a 6 p.m. game on Friday, Mar. 16. One day later, the three-game series will end with a doubleheader. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 17.
