AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 14 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost an 18-4 decision to No. 2 Lander Sunday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 26-10 on the season, including 13-8 in the Peach Belt Conference.

After head coach Kenny Thomas' team allowed three runs in the top of the second, his squad battled back, evening the contest in the bottom half of the frame.

With one out in the frame, Ryan Metzler drew a walk on four straight balls. Ben Donath drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Each moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch before Connor Oliveri drew a walk to load the bases.

Sean Miller laced a single through the left side, scoring Metzler to make it a 3-1 ball game. The bases were still loaded for Kody Belcher, who drew a walk on a full count to pull the team within one.

After an out, T.J. Costen drew a walk on another full count, evening the contest at 3-3. USC Aiken was unable to plate any more runs in the inning as Ty Barkell reached on a fielder's choice, but Costen was out on the play.

The Bearcats struck for four runs on five hits in the third and added three more in the fourth for a 10-3 advantage.

The Pacers tried to slice into the lead in the fourth as Belcer reached first with two down when he was hit by a pitch. He promptly stole second and Tyler Moore drew a 3-1 walk. However, Costen's groundout to short ended the threat.

USC Aiken left two on in the fifth with runners on first and third. Barkell beat out an infield single to lead things off and moved to second when Matt Bosse ripped the next pitch into left field, which forced the Bearcats to make a pitching change. Lander managed to get the next three batters out in order while maintaining the 10-3 lead.

Trailing 13-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, USC Aiken scored a run to make it 13-4. After Metzler reached on an error, he moved to second when Donath rocketed a single to first. Corey Bryant drew a walk to load the bases before Miller reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Metzler. A double play ended the frame.

Lander tacked on five runs in the ninth for the final tally.

For the game, Bosse had two of the team's five hits while Miller drove in two of the four runs. Barkell, Donath and Miller all had hits while Belcher drove in a run.

On the mound, Ben Black took the loss and now stands at 4-1 on the season. Caleb Smith started the contest, striking out two in two innings of work.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they travel to Catawba for a non-conference contest starting at 6 p.m.