AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team earned a 14-3 victory over visiting Anderson Wednesday evening in a non-conference affair.

The Pacers improve to 22-7 on the season.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team used an eight-run first inning and a dominant performance from starting pitcher Nick Yobbi to handle the visiting Trojans.

Kody Belcher started the scoring off by roping a single to center field in the bottom of the first. He moved to second on an error and came home when Tyler Moore tripled to right center. T.J. Costen's triple to left center made it a 2-0 contest. Ty Barkell doubled home Costen for a 3-0 edge.

Barkell later scored on a wild pitch. Ryan Metzler, Sean Miller and Grayson Smith all scored later in the frame, with the big shot coming off the bat of Belcher, who launched a three-run homer for the 8-0 score.

In the third, Miller's fielder's choice plated Smith. In the fifth, Smith blasted a solo homer and the Pacers tallied three more in the seventh when Moore made enough contact with the pitch to send it over the fence for a three-run job.

Moore led the way with five RBI. He had three hits, including two that went for extra bases. Belcher tallied three hits and three RBI while Smith also pounded out three hits. He scored three times.

Yobbi struck out three in five innings of work to pick up the win. He gave up just one run in the contest.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play Montevallo in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.