AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 14 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team registered a solid 6-1 victory over No. 2 Lander Saturday afternoon in a clash between the Peach Belt Conference powerhouses.

The Pacers improve to 26-9 overall and 13-7 against PBC competition.

Rookie Matt Hissong (3-1) threw eight spectacular innings, guiding head coach Kenny Thomas' team to the win. He struck out four while giving up just one run on four hits. He walked just two.

James Lynch came in, working the ninth in relief. He struck out one and gave up a hit in the contest. 

Kody Belcher led off the first with a double to right and moved to third on a passed ball. After a walk to T.J. Costen, Ty Barkell reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Belcher to score.

In the third, Tyler Moore walked and went to second as Costen drew a walk. With one down, Matt Bosse was hit by a pitch, loading the bags. Ryan Metzler reached on a fielder's choice and Moore scored for a 2-0 advantage.

Lander scored a run in the fourth, but Thomas' team got it back in the sixth when Moore drove in Grayson Smith, who had beat out an infield single.

USC Aiken added to its advantage in the eighth with three runs. With one down, Sean Miller belted a single to center before stealing second and third. He scampered home when Belcher singled to right.

After a pitching change, Belcher stole second. He moved to third and scored on a throwing error. With runners on the corner, Barkell lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Moore for the final tally of the game.

Barkell led the team with two RBI. Belcher, Ryan Metzler and Moore each drove in one in the win. Belcher and Miller paced the team with two hits each. Belcher and Moore each crossed home twice while Smith and Miller scored once.

Moore led the team with three walks while Costen had a pair. In all, the squad earned seven walks.

Thomas' team registered six runs on seven hits while the Bearcats tallied one run on five hits with an error.    

The Pacers return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m., when they host Lander in the final game of the three-game series. Live stats will be available at PacerSports.com.