AIKEN, S.C. – In the rubber game of its second series of the year, the nationally fifth-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team claimed its second straight series victory to open the 2013 season with a 7-0 shutout victory over Carson-Newman on Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

The shutout win is the third in the last four games for USC Aiken (5-1).

For the second consecutive day, the USC Aiken pitchers held Carson-Newman (3-4) in check with four Pacer pitchers holding the Eagles to just four hits. The foursome fanned eight Eagles.

USC Aiken starter Wyatt Brown (Suwanee, Ga./Middle Georgia) pitched six scoreless innings. Brown (1-0) allowed just three hits and fanned five in his six innings on the mound.

Pacer relievers Jake Padgett (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert HS), Caleb Smith (Aiken, S.C./Coastal Carolina) and Taylor Grover (North Augusta, S.C./Midland Valley HS) each pitched an inning the rest of the way with the trio only allowing one hit. Smith struck out two, while Grover fanned one in the top of the ninth. 

Carson-Newman starter Quinton Yocom pitched the first 5.1 innings in his loss. Yocom (1-1) allowed 11 hits and six runs. He was one of four Carson-Newman pitchers utilized on the day.

Ryan Metzler (Glen Burnie, Md./Siena) and Bill Gerstenslager (Solon, Ohio/Mercyhurst) both finished the Pacer win 3-for-4 at the dish. 

Metzler scored two runs and had an RBI in the game. He had two doubles. Gerstenslagler scored two runs in the Pacer victory.

Four Pacers finished with multiple hits in total with Bryce Baur (Moncks Corner, S.C./Florence-Darlington Tech) and John Fidanza (Prospect, Ky./Coastal Carolina) each recording two hits.

The Pacers out-hit Carson-Newman, 15-4, in the three-game series finale. 

Shepherd will next visit Roberto Hernandez Stadium for a three-game series for the first time. 

The Rams and Pacers will commence their three-game series at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15.

The series will close with single 1 p.m. games on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17.

Shepherd, which is the alma mater of current Pacer head assistant coach Jason Walck, and USC Aiken have not met since 1992. The Pacers own a 2-0 all-time series advantage in the series. 

Shepherd (0-0) will be opening its 2013 season against the Pacers.