AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team's rally fell just short in the 8-6 loss to Francis Marion in the series-opening game.

The Pacers are now 16-7 on the season and 7-6 against conference foes. The Patriots improve to 12-7 on the year and 5-3 in league action.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team trailed 2-0 after the first inning. Facing Matt Kelley, the USC Aiken offense was unable to get things going in the early part of the contest. Kelley limited the home team to a mere three singles through the first five innings of work.

Francis Marion added three runs in the sixth, taking a 5-0 lead. However, the Pacers' bats went to work in the bottom of the stanza.

With two down, Zach Moon launched a solo homer over the left center field fence. Chaz Pal followed him up with another round-tripper, making it a 5-2 contest.

The Patriots tacked on a run in the seventh and scored two more in the eighth, including one that was unearned, for an 8-2 advantage.

Despite the six-run deficit, USC Aiken never gave up.

In the bottom of the ninth, Matt Bosse walked to lead things off. Douglas Ard walked, putting runners on first and second. Thomas went to the bench and put Cory Bryant in as a pinch hitter for Max Schoen.

The left-handed batter tried to get out of the way of an inside pitch, but it grazed him, loading the bases for USC Aiken.

Thomas went to the bench again and had Randy Luckett pinch hit for Rob Youngblood and Luckett responded with a grand slam, making it an 8-6 contest with nobody out.

With two down, TJ Costen drew a walk. Moon stepped to the plate and ripped a shot into left field, but it was right at the outfielder for the final out of the game.

For the contest, Francis Marion totaled eight runs on 10 hits while USC Aiken accounted for six runs on eight hits with two errors.

Forrest Koumas took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in 5.2 innings of work.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m., for a doubleheader against the Patriots.