Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The nationally 17th-ranked
University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team completed a
two-game mid-week sweep of Chowan with a 2-1 victory over the Hawks
on Wednesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Pacers with the victory have now won six straight games.
USC Aiken (14-4) scored both of its runs in the game in the
bottom of the first inning to secure the win.
Stephen
Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) kicked off the bottom of the first
for USC Aiken by singling to right field. Nick Aranas
(Lexington, S.C./Lexington) shortly thereafter brought him home on
a fielder's choice RBI.
Bill
Gerstenslager (Solon, Ohio/Mercyhurst) then doubled down the
left field line next to score Aranas and give the Pacers what would
prove to be the game-winning run.
Chowan (9-13) plated its lone run of the game in the top of the
sixth inning.
USC Aiken ended Wednesday's victory out-hitting Chowan, 7-6.
Brady
Schmitt (Fairfax, Va./St. John's Catholic) led the Pacers on
Wednesday. He was 3-for-4 in the contest.
Josh Catalano was the only Hawk to record multiple hits. He had
two in the game.
USC Aiken used the services of six pitchers on Wednesday. Thomas McLeod
(Chapin, S.C./Chapin) started the game, but left after three
scoreless innings on the hill. Abram Cartledge
(Thomson, Ga./Thomson) then claimed his first career win on the
hill in relief of McLeod. He allowed just one hit in three innings
on the mound.
Taylor
Grover (North Augusta, S.C./Midland Valley) pitched the final
1.1 innings to claim his first save of the year.
Ryan Moore took the loss for Chowan. He allowed six hits and two
runs.
USC Aiken will next travel to Columbus, Ga. for a national
top-20 showdown with No. 10 Columbus State on Saturday, Mar. 10 and
Sunday, Mar. 11. The two teams will first play a twinbill on
Saturday with the first game slated to commence at 1 p.m.
The three-game Peach Belt Conference series will close with a 1
p.m. game on Sunday.
