Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a 3-2 decision to No. 5 Catawba Friday evening in a 12-inning contest.
The Pacers are now 33-15 on the season.
The game was a pure battle between the two starting pitchers. For head coach Kenny Thomas' team, senior Forrest Koumas turned in an impressive performance in his last career start in front of the home crowd. He worked nine innings and gave up just two earned runs on five hits. Koumas struck out 13 in the contest before being pulled at the start of the 10th inning.
James Lynch worked the final three innings. He struck out two and gave up just one hit and a run, but it turned out to be the game-winning run for the visitors. Bryan Blanton earned the win for the Indians.
USC Aiken had a chance to take an early lead with a pair of base runners in the first, but a strikeout ended the threat. After being retired in order in the second, Thomas' team went back to work in the third. Rob Youngblood singled deep into the hole on the left side of the infield. Kody Belcher roped a double down the left field line, but a solid throw held Youngblood at third base. The Pacers were retired in order from that standpoint via the strikeout, ending the third.
The Indians took a 2-0 lead with a one-out homer in the sixth, but USC Aiken continued to battle. In the bottom of the eighth, Tyler Moore singled to third and scampered to second on Chaz Pal's groundout. With two down, Zach Moon walked prior to TJ Costen ripping a single into the gap, making it a 2-1 game.
The Pacers tied the contest in the ninth. Sean Miller led off the stanza with a single and advanced to second on Randy Luckett's sacrifice bunt. With two down, Belcher laced a single to center field, plating Miller and sending the game into extra innings.
Neither team could get anything going in the 10th or 11th. In the 12th, Catawba scored a run on a sacrifice fly.
USC Aiken tried to tie the game in the bottom half of the frame. Luckett led off with a single to right field before moving to second on Cory Bryant's single. With two down, Pal drew a walk to load the bases. However, a fly ball ended USC Aiken's chance at tying the game.
For the contest, Thomas' squad pounded out 11 hits compared to just six by the visitors.
Belcher and Luckett had two hits apiece. Ty Barkell, Bryant, Costen, Miller, Moore, Pal and Youngblood all had a hit in the game. Belcher and Costen each drove in one while Miller and Moore each crossed home plate.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they square off against Catawba at 2 p.m. Prior to the game, the seniors will be honored for their hard work and dedication. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.
