SALISBURY, N.C. – In a battle of top-20 teams, 16th-ranked Catawba knocked off No. 11 USC Aiken, 6-3, on Wednesday evening at Newman Park.

USC Aiken (26-13) scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the third inning, but in the bottom of the fifth inning Catawba (33-10) scored six runs to take a 6-2 lead.

The Pacers had their chances the rest of the game, but in the end USC Aiken was only able to scratch across one more run in its three-run loss.

USC Aiken out-hit Catawba, 10-8, in the game.

Four Pacers finished with two hits each with Will Tankersley (Thomson, Ga./Thomson), Ty Barkell (Denver, Colo./Palmer Ridge), Bill Gerstenslager (Solon, Ohio/Mercyhurst) and Stephen Bellantoni (Oviedo, Fla./Lake Sumter CC) all ending the loss with two hits.

Barkell had two RBIs in the contest, while Gerstenslager concluded his efforts with an RBI. Tankersley scored a run.

Brett Underwood led Catawba with three hits.

John Tuttle claimed the win for Catawba in the contest in relief of starter Nate King. Tuttle dealt three innings in relief to improve to 3-2 on the year.

Craig Brooks acquired his second save of the year in Catawba's win.

Thomas McLeod (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) suffered the loss for USC Aiken in relief of starter Ryan Milewski (West Boylston, Mass./West Boylston). McLeod allowed four runs in 2.2 innings. He fanned four.

USC Aiken will next close the week at home with a three-game Peach Belt Conference series against national No. 24 UNC Pembroke. 

The three-game league series at Roberto Hernandez Stadium is scheduled to get underway with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 14. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

The third and final game of the USC Aiken-UNC Pembroke series will be contested at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 15.