Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – After the nationally sixth-ranked University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team opened the two-game midweek series with a 7-6 victory on Tuesday, the 25th-ranked Catawba baseball team picked up a 7-4 second game victory over the Pacers on Wednesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The second game against Catawba (14-5) closed out USC Aiken's season-opening 17-game homestand. The Pacers finished the 17-game homestand with a record of 14-3.
Catawba led from start-to-finish in its narrow win over the Pacers on Wednesday evening.
USC Aiken would keep itself within distance the entire game, but in the end the Pacers could not advantage of their chances in the latter innings of the game.
Catawba narrowly out-hit USC Aiken in the game, 10-9.
Josh Miller (Chapin, S.C./Chapin HS) was the only Pacer to secure multiple hits in the game as he ended his evening 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Bill Gerstenslager (Solon, Ohio/Mercyhurst) doubled in the game for the Pacers.
Catawba had two players collect multiple hits in the game with Chris Dula and Paul Kronefeld both claiming two hits each.
The contest featured 13 pitchers in total between the two teams. USC Aiken utilized the services of seven hurlers in the game, while Catawba used six pitchers in its second game win over the Pacers.
USC Aiken starter Zach Hayden (Martinez, Ga./Middle Georgia) suffered the loss on the hill in the game for the Pacers. Hayden (0-1) fanned four Indians.
Catawba reliever Will Johnson (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Michael Trombino.
Catawba's Ryan McClintock dealt the final 1.2 innings of the game for Catawba to acquire his third save of the year.
The Pacers will next close their week by traveling to Savannah, Ga. for their first road contests of the 2013 season. The Pacers will face league foe Armstrong Atlantic State for a three-game series on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. The three-game series will open with a doubleheader on March 9. First pitch in the doubleheader is slated for 11 a.m. The series will close with a single 1 p.m. game on March 10.
