AIKEN, S.C. – The nationally eighth-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team acquired its seventh straight victory in a 12-0 shutout win over non-conference foe Chowan on Wednesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. 

Five USC Aiken (22-5) pitchers combined to hold Chowan (11-19) to just two hits in the game.

Pacer reliever Ben Black (Augusta, Ga./Lakeside HS) collected the win for USC Aiken on the hill in the game in relief of starter Adrian Rivero (Alpharetta, Ga./USC Salkehatchie). Black (2-0) dealt two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. 

The Pacer pitching trio of Cole Lee (Chapin, S.C./Chapin HS), Kevin Franklin (Clarksville, Tenn./Middle Georgia) and Kevin Gifford (Warner Robbins, Ga./Middle Georgia) did not allow a single hit in Chowan's final four at-bats. 

Josh Barmoy took the loss on the mound for Chowan. He is now 1-1 on the year.

The Pacers closed out the win over Chowan out-hitting the Hawks, 15-2. 

Four Pacers closed out the Pacer victory with multiple hits with Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin HS) leading the way with a 2-for-4 performance that saw him secure two runs scored and two RBIs. 

Bryce Baur (Moncks Corner, S.C./Florence-Darlington Tech) was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI in the game. USC Aiken's Bill Gerstenslager (Solon, Ohio/Mercyhurst) concluded his efforts 2-for-2 with three RBIs. 

Ben Donath (Aiken, S.C./Middle Georgia) was 2-for-5 in the contest for USC Aiken. He scored and drove in a run. Donath also tripled in the Pacer victory over Chowan.

USC Aiken will next conclude its week with a road Peach Belt Conference three-game series with North Georgia in Dahlonega, Ga. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The three-game league set between USC Aiken and North Georgia will then close with a single 1 p.m. contest on Sunday, March 24.