AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team defeated Lander by an 18-17 contest Saturday afternoon in a high-scoring Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers improve to 9-1 on the year, including a 5-0 mark against league foes. The Bearcats fall to 8-4 overall, including a 3-2 mark against conference competition.

Max Schoen led the way by tying the school record with five hits in six trips to the plate. He drove in three runs while crossing home three times. Zach Moon drove in three runs on four hits and crossed home plate a game-high four times. Mitchell Price registered three hits, drove in two and crossed home plate twice.

Skylar Mercado had two hits, two RBI and scored once. In all, all nine players drove in a run and all nine crossed home plate at least one time.

Highlighting the slugfest for USC Aiken was seven extra-base hits, including four round-trippers. Moon had a pair of homers while Brian Parreira and Schoen each had one homer.

Mercado, Price and Luke Westerberg all turned in doubles in the victory.

Trailing 7-1 in the third inning, head coach Kenny Thomas' team roared back with an eight-run inning for a 9-7 advantage. The frame was highlighted by a pair of hits that each drove in two runs. The first was a double by Price and it was followed up with a two-run hit from Mercado.

Lander tied it in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs, but the Pacers quickly answered as Moon homered to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Schoen belted a two-run round-tripper and the Pacers would eventually take a 13-9 advantage.

Leading 14-9, USC Aiken saw its lead trimmed to one as the Bearcats had a four-run seventh inning. The Pacers battled back with a three-run inning, but the visitors tied it at 17-17 with a four-run eighth frame.

In the bottom of the inning, Parreira came through with the game-winning solo home run with one down.

Nick Jobst completed the ninth inning as he recorded the final four outs of the game en route to picking up the victory.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow against the Bearcats at 2 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.