Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken had a five-run first inning and cruised to a 14-5 victory over visiting GRU Augusta in a non-conference contest Wednesday evening.
The Pacers improve to 32-13 on the season with the victory.
USC Aiken, ranked No. 4 in the first region rankings, got things going quickly. With two down in the first, Tyler Moore singled to center field and easily came home when Ty Barkell launched a deep two-run homer high over the left field fence. After Ryan Metzler doubled and scampered to third on a wild pitch, T.J. Costen belted a single, plating Metzler. Head coach Kenny Thomas' team added two more runs when Matt Bosse rocketed a two-run round-tripper for the 5-0 edge.
Nick Yobbi retired the side in order in the second and third innings, but ran into some trouble in the fourth. The Jaguars got on the board as they scored four runs, making it a 5-4 contest.
The Pacers managed to get the four runs back in their half of the fourth. With one down, Ben Donath doubled down the left field line and moved to third on Charles Padilla's single to left.
Dylan Durham reached on an error that allowed Donath to cross home. Sean Miller brought both runners home with a bases-clearing triple to right center. The triple marked the 20th of the season for USC Aiken, which is just one short of tying the school record.
GRU Augusta scratched across a run in the seventh, but USC Aiken plated three in the bottom half of the stanza for a 12-5 edge. In the inning, Moore led off with a single to left and went to second on Barkell's single. Ryan Metzler doubled down the right field line, pushing Barkell to third while allowing Moore to score.
With one down, Bosse singled home Barkell. After a pitching change, Randy Luckett reached on a fielder's choice. On the play, Metzler trotted home for the final run of the inning.
Thomas' squad added two runs in the eighth after it loaded the bases and the Jaguars' pitcher allowed two runners to score after being hit by pitches.
For the game, Metzler and Moore each had three hits. Bosse and Padilla registered two hits apiece. Bosse paced the team with four RBI. Barkell, Luckett and Miller contributed two RBI each. The Pacers tallied 14 runs on 16 hits with two errors.
Yobbi picked up the victory, tossing five innings. He didn't allow an earned run while striking out three. Taylor Peed, Caleb Smith, Jake Padgett and Randy Sipp all pitched effectively out of the bullpen.
USC Aiken hosts Georgia Southwestern this weekend in a three-game series. The series opens Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
