GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team used the long ball in the 8-3 road win at Lander Sunday afternoon.

The Pacers improve to 9-5 on the season and 2-4 against conference competition. The Bobcats are now 6-7 on the year and 1-5 against league foes.

Four student-athletes on head coach Kenny Thomas' team hit round-trippers and four had multiple hits in the game. USC Aiken received an outstanding effort on the mound by Trevor Hutto, who worked five innings and gave up just one run while scattering six hits to pick up the victory.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Chaz Pal reached on an error that would have been the final out of the inning. However, the Pacers capitalized as Matt Bosse roped a single, putting runners on first and second. Douglas Ard singled home Pal, knotting the contest at 1-1. Then, Rob Youngblood launched a three-run homer over the left field fence for a 4-1 advantage.

The Bearcats would have been out of the inning, but Kody Belcher reached on an error by the third baseman. After Sean Miller singled, Tyler Moore completed the scoring in the frame with an RBI single.

Two innings later, Belcher pushed the Pacers' lead to 6-1 with a lead-off homer to straight-away center field. Pal homered to left to lead off the seventh frame. Two batters later, Bosse blasted a solo shot to left field for an 8-1 advantage.

The dominant USC Aiken pitching staff kept Lander off the board until the bottom of the ninth. The Bearcats managed to plate two runs, but the Pacers' lead was not seriously threatened in the 8-3 win.

For the game, USC Aiken rattled off eight runs on 13 hits and did not commit an error. Lander scored three runs on 10 hits but committed four errors.

Ard, Bosse, Miller and Moore had two hits apiece in the victory. Youngblood led everyone with three RBI. Belcher, Moore, Pal, Bosse and Ard drove in one apiece. Belcher, Bosse and Pal all crossed home plate twice apiece.

Cole Lee pitched a scoreless frame while Nick Yobbi struck out two batters in an inning. Sam Daniel struck out two batters while allowing just one hit. James Lynch struck out one Bearcat in the ninth frame.

The Pacers return to action on Friday, Feb. 27 when they host Georgia College at 4 p.m.