Coming off a Peach Belt Tournament that saw the University of South Carolina Aiken go 1-2, head coach Kenny Thomas got his team ready to compete at the NCAA Tournament – and the team not only competed but nearly won the Southeast Region Championship.

During the run, USC Aiken knocked off Tusculum, Columbus State and defeated the Pioneers for the second time to reach the NCAA Southeast Region Championship game.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The No. 19 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team registered a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tusculum in the opening game of the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament.

The Pacers improve to 38-16 on the year with the win. The Pioneers fall to 36-17 on the year.

In the top of the first, Tusculum managed to get a pair of runners on and could have had the bases loaded, but Max Schoen's throw to Tyler Ammerman on an attempted steal erased one runner. Despite having runners on first and third later in the inning, Joe Marlow forced a routine fly ball to get out of a jam.

After Marlow got out of trouble in the second inning, the Pioneers managed to break through for a run in the third stanza thanks in part to four singles.

USC Aiken's defense allowed Marlow to breeze through the fourth and fifth stanzas. In the sixth, head coach Kenny Thomas' team got on the board.

With one down, Chaz Pal roped a double down the left field line on a 1-0 pitch. Moon followed him up with a single to left, knotting the contest at 1-1.

Schoen ripped the first pitch he saw into center field, putting runners on first and second. Brian Parreira's bloop to right field loaded the bases.

Tusculum went to its bullpen and the new pitcher promptly retired the first Pacer he saw. However, while dealing to Nile Goings, a wild pitch allowed Moon to race home from third for what turned out to be the game-winning run.

Marlow returned to the mound with a lead and quickly retired the side in the seventh. In the eighth, he gave up a single before forcing Dante Key to hit a slow grounder to Parreira for the final out of the inning.

Thomas' squad threatened to increase its lead in the bottom of the inning. With two down, Skylar Mercado was hit by a pitch. Goings singled to center field to put runners on first and second but a fly ball to right field ended the stanza.

Despite pitchers warming up in the bullpen, Marlow trotted back to the mound for the ninth. He forced a fly ball to left center field before giving up a single up the middle. With a runner on base, he struck out a batter for the second out. Kevin Victoriano was unable to do anything with one of Marlow's offerings, popping it to David Lankster for the final out of the game.

For the game, USC Aiken had two runs on seven hits with two errors while Tusculum had one run on 11 hits with no miscues.

Marlow tossed a complete game, striking out four batters while walking two. He gave up one run and 11 hits – but none went for extra bases. Marlow threw 119 pitches with 79 reaching the strike zone. The complete game marked his first as a Pacer.

At the plate, Pal led the way with two hits. Moon drove in a run and scored once and Pal crossed home once as well.

The win marked the first for USC Aiken in the NCAA Tournament since an 11-7 victory over Georgia College on May 16, 2013.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – University of South Carolina Aiken shortstop Tyler Ammerman's three-run single in the 10^th inning guided the designated visitors past top-seeded Columbus State Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The No. 19 Pacers improve to 39-16 on the season while the No. 5 Cougars are now 40-13.

With the score tied in the top of the 10^th inning and one down, Brian Parreira ripped an 0-1 pitch to left center field for a single. Joey Smithers drew a two-out walk before Columbus State made a pitching change. After the new hurler entered the game, Luke Westerberg garnered a base on balls to load the bags. On a 1-1 pitch, Ammerman belted an offering to the gap in left center field. All three base runners came across home plate for an 8-5 advantage.

Cole Lee, who had come on earlier in the game, registered a one-pitch out. After freezing a Cougar for a called third strike, the home squad managed to get a runner on base. However, Lee – in fine fashion – ended the game with a swinging strikeout.

USC Aiken opened the game with a pair of runs in the first inning. Mitchell Price laced a single before heading to second on a Chaz Pal walk. Zach Moon reached on a fielding error, allowing Price to hustle home for a 1-0 advantage. Parreira lifted a sacrifice fly into foul territory as Pal trotted home for the two-run margin.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team pushed the lead to 3-0 with a run in the fourth. With two down, Ammerman launched an 0-2 pitch high over the left field fence for a solo shot.

The Cougars bounced back, pulling with one, with a pair of runs in the bottom of the stanza.

The Pacers regained their two-run lead in the sixth. Max Schoen earned lead-off walk and moved to second on a fly ball down the right field line. With two down, Ammerman came through once again, singling through the left side of the infield to make it 4-2.

USC Aiken pushed its lead to three when Price launched the first pitch of the seventh inning over the wall in left field.

It looked as if Thomas' team would finish off the top seeded Cougars, but the home team managed to pull even with three runs in the eighth, including one that was unearned. After a scoreless ninth, USC Aiken finished the contest in stellar fashion.

For the game, the Pacers tallied eight runs on eight hits with one error while Columbus State totaled five runs on seven hits with two miscues.

Lee picked up the victory in relief. He struck out three batters while surrendering just two hits. Erik Davis started the game and went seven innings. He struck out seven while walking two. Davis gave up two earned runs on five hits.

Ammerman and Price each had three hits. Ammemran registered a career-high five RBI while also scoring a run. Price crossed home twice.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – After dropping a game to Lander earlier in the day, the University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team earned a berth in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship game with an 8-2 victory over Tusculum Sunday evening in an elimination game.

The Pacers are now 40-17 on the season and have now defeated the PBC regular and conference tournament champion once as well as the South Atlantic Conference co-tournament champion twice in the regional.

After being shutout earlier in the day for the first time this year, head coach Kenny Thomas' team got on the board with a run in the first. With one down, Mitchell Price was hit by a pitch. He hustled to second on a wild pitch before touring the next 180 feet after Chaz Pal singled up the middle.

The Price was right again in the third when Price led off with a double to the gap in left center field. With two down, Brian Parreira reached on a fielding error, allowing Price to score. Skylar Mercado followed Parreira with a single through the left side of the infield to make it 3-0, which was more than enough for hurler Nick Yobbi.

USC Aiken extended its margin to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Charles Padilla led off the stanza with an infield single. He took second when Tyler Ammerman blasted a shot down the left field line. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position. Jonathan Banks ripped a pitch to third base, which was mishandled. As the ball trickled into left field, Padilla and Ammerman crossed home plate.

Tusculum scored a pair of runs in the fifth, but Thomas' team would thwart the comeback attempt quickly.

Yobbi continued his dominance and his team regained the five-run edge in the seventh. Pal blasted a double down the left field line and jogged to third on a wild pitch. Zach Moon launched a single through the left side of the infield, plating Pal.

With one down, Mercado beat out an infield shot to put two runners on base. After an out, Padilla singled to load the bags. Ammerman, who had five RBI yesterday, earned an easy one by drawing a walk to score Moon.

Luke Westerberg, who subbed into the game, made the most of his at bat in the ninth by crushing a 2-2 pitch with two away high over the left field wall for an 8-2 margin.

Yobbi retired the side in order in the ninth, helping the team oust the Pioneers. He tossed a complete game, marking the second time in his career he has gone the distance. Yobbi struck out five while allowing two earned runs on eight hits. He threw 110 pitches – 73 of which were strikes.

At the plate, Padilla had a huge game. He was four-for-five with a run scored. Mercado and Pal had two hits apiece while Price trotted home a pair of times.  

The Pacers lost the NCAA Southeast Region game to Lander, but making the round of 16 left a lasting impact for the 2016 team.