MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team won a pair of games at Montevallo on Saturday by scores of 8-7 and 5-3.

The Pacers are now 21-10 on the season and improve to 11-9 against conference competition.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team jumped on top with a run in the top of the first inning of game one. Tyler Moore's sacrifice fly allowed Kody Belcher to score, who had reached on a double to open the contest.

Tied at 1-1 in the top of the second, Rob Youngblood's infield single plated Zach Moon, who had led off the frame with a single to left. Montevallo scored three in the bottom of the stanza, but the Pacers quickly answered in the top of the fourth with three runs.

With two down, Ard doubled to center field and the inning was kept alive when Youngblood reached on an error. Belcher made the home team pay with a three-run blast over the right field fence, giving the team a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Moon singled home Chaz Pal. Three batters later, Ard singled home Moon for a 7-4 edge. Montevallo tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with two homers, accounting for three runs.

USC Aiken had the bases loaded with two down for Ard. He managed to push the ball through the left side, driving in Pal for what turned out to be the game-winning run.  

For the game, Belcher led the way with three RBI. Ard had two RBI while Moon, Moore and Youngblood each had one. Ard tallied three hits while Belcher and Moon each had two. Belcher, Moon and Pal each scored twice while Ard and Youngblood crossed home once apiece.

Forrest Koumas worked five innings and struck out six en route to picking up the victory. James Lynch pitched a scoreless two innings while striking out four to pick up his fifth save of the season.

In the second game, Belcher started it off with a lead-off homer down the right field line for a 1uick 1-0 advantage. However, Thomas' team fell behind 3-1 after the Falcons scored a run in the first, second and fifth innings.

USC Aiken battled back, pulling within one in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Pal launched a round-tripper over the left center field fence, making it 2-1.

The Pacers got things going once again in the eighth inning. TJ Costen was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Tyler Moore beat out a bunt for an infield single. Pal's sacrifice bunt moved Costen and Moore up 90 feet.

After a pitching change, Moon launched a three-run homer over the right field fence for a 5-3 advantage.

Ben Black, who had come into the game in the seventh, continued to dominate the opposition.

Although Nick Yobbi started and went six innings, Black picked up the victory after working the final three innings. Yobbi struck out six and gave up three runs on seven hits. Black struck out a pair of Falcons, but gave up just two hits without allowing a run to cross home.

For the game, Moon drove in three runs while Belcher and al each had one RBI. Belcher, Moon and Pal each had two hits.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the final game of the series starting at 2 p.m.