AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team secured the series victory over the Saints by splitting a doubleheader on Sunday. The Pacers won the first game 9-8 before falling 11-8 in the nightcap.

USC Aiken is now 33-14 on the season and finishes Peach Belt Conference play with an 18-12 mark.

In the opener, TJ Costen led everyone with a school-record tying five hits. He homered and drove in the game-winning run while scoring twice. Ty Barkell, Kody Belcher and Randy Lucket had two hits apiece while Sean Miller, Zach Moon, Tyler Moore and Rob Youngblood all had one hit.

Barkell drove in three runs while Youngblood added a pair. Miller and Moon each drove in one. Moore scored twice while Barkell, Belcher, Miller, Moon and Pal all crossed home once.

Ben Black opened the game for USC Aiken. He worked 4.1 innings, striking out five but he gave up seven earned runs. Nick Yobbi tossed 2.2 innings of four-hit ball without giving up a run. Jared Felix registered one out while Cole Lee went the final 1.2 innings, striking out one en route to the victory.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team found itself trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third. However, with one down Belcher got things going with a walk. He moved to third on Moore's single. After Moore stole second, Barkell smashed a three-run homer over the left field wall, knotting the score at 3-3.

The Saints regained the lead in the fifth by scoring five runs, including one that was unearned.

In the bottom of the sixth, USC Aiken pulled closer, plating three runs. Moon doubled to right center field and moved to third on Costen's single. Miller doubled home Moon. With two down, Youngblood drilled a double into the outfield, scoring two more while pushing the score to 8-6.

Costen got the home team closer in the bottom of the eighth when he drilled a solo round-tripper, making it 8-7.

After Flagler threatened in the ninth but left two stranded, the Pacers went to work.

Belcher started things off with an infield single. He hustled to second on a sacrifice bunt by Moore, but was erased when Pal reached on a fielder's choice.

Pal and Moore each stole a base, putting the game-winning run on second base. Barkell was intentionally walked, loading the bags. Moon's sacrifice fly to center field tied the contest with two away. Then, for the second consecutive game, Costen belted out a single, scoring Pal to give USC Aiken a 9-8 victory.

In the second game, Pal led the way with four hits while Belcher, Moore and Youngblood all had two. Barkell, Costen and Moon each had one base hit. Barkell drove in five of the team's seven runs as Moon and Moore also had one RBI apiece. Moore scored three times while Pal crossed home twice. Barkell, Belcher and Youngblood all scored a run.

Trevor Hutto took the loss. Erik Davis, Sam Daniel, Jared Felix and James Lynch all saw time on the mound. Daniel struck out three while Felix worked a perfect inning.

Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Barkell blasted a three-run homer over the right field fence, making it 8-3. Moore and Pal each scored on the play as they had back-to-back singles to lead off the frame.

The Saints connected for two runs in the fifth, but Thomas' team answered with three more in the bottom of the inning. Youngblood scored after Moore swiped second base. Two batters later, Barkell's groundout allowed Moore to trot home. Moon found a gap in the left side of the infield, plating Pal for a 10-6 game.

In the seventh, Moore singled home Belcher, who had led off the stanza with a base hit. Two batters later, Barkell reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Moore to cross home, pulling the team within two at 10-8.

However, USC Aiken stranded a runner in the eighth and ninth and was unable to complete the comeback.

The Pacers return to action Friday when they host Catawba at 7:30 p.m. Live stats, video and audio are available at PacerSports.com.