AIKEN, S.C. – In a battle of top-25 teams, the nationally sixth-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team claimed a 7-6 victory over Catawba on Tuesday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The contest was the first of two games at the 'Bert between the two national and regional powers. The second game of the two-game midweek series is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
USC Aiken (14-2) opened the game by racing out to a 5-1 advantage over the course of the first three innings.
Catawba (13-5) would cut the Pacer lead to 5-3 in the top of the fifth, but USC Aiken would double its lead to 6-3 in the home half of the frame when Ryan Metzler (Glen Burnie, Md./Siena) singled in Bill Gerstenslager (Solon, Ohio/Mercyhurst).
USC Aiken would take a 7-3 lead and capture the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh when JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood HS) singled in Gerstenslager.
Catawba would score three runs over the course of its next two at-bats, but the Pacers would be able to hold on for the one-run win.
Ty Barkell (Denver, Colo. / Palmer Ridge HS) continued his recent hot streak in the Pacer win. He was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored. In the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, Barkell homered in the third inning.
Loker finished the Pacer win 3-for-4 with one RBI.
The final Pacers with multiple hits were Branden Millhouse (Summerville, S.C./USC Upstate) and John Fidanza (Prospect, Ky./Coastal Carolina), who both ended the Pacer victory with two hits.
Chris Dula led three Indians with multiple hits with three hits.
USC Aiken out-hit Catwaba, 14-11, in the game in total.
Pacer reliever Tyler Stephan (Louisville, Ky./Trinity HS) obtained the victory in relief of starter Taylor Peed (St. Leonard, Md./Calvert HS). Stephan is now 2-0 on the season.
Five Pacer pitchers saw action in the game with Taylor Grover (North Augusta, S.C./Midland Valley HS) dealing the final 1.2 innings to obtain his Peach Belt Conference-leading fifth save of the year.
Catawba starter Cameron Cockman took the loss in the game. He pitched the first 4.1 innings. He allowed six of the seven runs.
**Pictured is USC Aiken head coach Kenny Thomas receiving his plaque for his 1,000th victory**
