AIKEN, S.C. - The No. 21 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team posted a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over visiting North Georgia in the first game of the series Friday evening. 
 
The Pacers improve to 20-5 on the year, including a 12-4 mark against league foes. The Nighthawks drop to 13-10 overall and 6-7 against conference competition.  
 
The visitors got on the board with a run in the top of the first for a 1-0 edge. Head coach Kenny Thomas' team had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom half of the frame, but was unable to capitalize. 
 
With one down, Chaz Pal roped a single to right center field. Brian Parreira followed him up with a base knock to right field, putting runners on first and second. However, a pop fly and a line drive ended the threat for the home squad. 
 
The Nighthawks went back to work, scratching a run across in the third inning, but USC Aiken responded in the bottom of the fourth. 
 
Max Schoen led off the bottom of the fourth with a sharply hit ball to right field. Mitchell Price laid down a bunt that he beat out for a single, putting two runners on base. A shallow pop fly into the outfield by Banks allowed him to reach on a fielder's choice as Price was thrown out at second. The Pacers had runners on first and third with one away when Luke Westerberg blasted a single to left, pulling the home squad within one at 2-1. Back-to-back pop-ups ended the frame. 
 
USC Aiken went back to work in the bottom of the sixth stanza. Schoen led off the inning with a single to center field. An oddly-hit chopper over the shortstop's head by Price put Pacers on second and third with nobody out. However, USC Aiken was unable to push across the tying run at that point. 
 
In the bottom of the eighth, the Pacers knotted the contest at 2-2. Schoen reached on a one-out single to right center field. He was erased on a fielder's choice to Price for the second out. With two strikes on Jonathan Banks, he laced a double down the left field line while Price hustled around from first for the game-tying run.   
 
USC Aiken had a chance to snag the win in the bottom of the ninth, but the squad was unable to bring in Skylar Mercado after he earned a walk. 
 
Nick Jobst, who came in at the start of the ninth, was spectacular in the 10th. After allowing a pair of Nighthawks to reach base, he struck out a batter to end the frame with runners on the corners. 
 
In the bottom of the stanza, Zach Moon singled to the gap in left center field. Schoen was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. JT Arnemann came in as a pinch runner for Moon but was quickly erased on a fielder's choice. Banks blooped a double to right field, allowing Schoen to race around third and swiftly cross home plate for the game-winning run.

Erik Davis worked 7.2 innings, striking out seven. He did not get a decision after giving up a pair of runs on five hits. Connor Riley worked the final out of the eighth before Jobst came in for the final two innings. He struck out five batters, walking just one, en route to picking up his second victory of the year.

For the game, Schoen led everyone with a three-for-four performance. He also crossed home a pair of times. Banks registered two doubles and drove in two. Pal and Price also had two hits apiece. 
 
The teams return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. Live stats, video and audio will be available at PacerSports.com.