Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken standouts Jonathan Banks and Erik Davis turned in masterful performances as the Pacers knocked off Lander by an 8-2 count in a Peach Belt Conference contest.
The Pacers improve to 8-1 overall, including a 4-0 record against league teams. The Bearcats fall to 8-3 overall and are now 3-1 against conference competition.
Banks tied the school record with five hits, becoming the 15th USC Aiken standout to do so. Former standout TJ Costen was the last to accomplish the feat, which happened Apr. 26, 2015 against Flagler.
Erik Davis came in during the fourth inning and tossed 5.1 innings of shutout ball. He was outstanding on the mound, registering 11 strikeouts while scattering three hits and walking just one batter.
Banks drove in two runs and scored three times. Max Schoen registered three hits and drove in a pair of runs. Luke Westerberg tallied two hits and drove in three batters.
Brian Parreira crossed home three times in the victory.
Head coach Kenny Thomas' team got on the board in the first as Banks singled home Chaz Pal, who had reached on a walk. Schoen followed him up with a base hit that plated Parreira, who had also reached on a base on balls.
The Bearcats tied the contest in the second with a two-run homer, but USC Aiken answered in the third stanza.
Zach Moon walked and moved to second on Banks' single. With one down, Tyler Ammerman walked to load the bags. Westerberg laced a single to left for a run and Mitchell Price lifted a fly ball to the outfield, which allowed Banks to trot home for a 4-2 edge.
In the fourth, the Pacers increased their advantage to 6-2 when Schoen and Westerberg plated runs. Schoen singled home Parreira and with the bases loaded, Westerberg was hit by a pitch for the four-run lead.
Westerberg added to the lead in the sixth when he singled home Banks and the Pacers completed the scoring when Banks singled home Parreira in the seventh for the final tally.
Brooks Calvo started the game and worked 3.2 innings. He struck out six batters and gave up a pair of earned runs on five hits while walking three.
For the game, Davis threw 80 pitches, including 57 strikes.
The Pacers return to action for the middle game of the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.
