MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The No. 5 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a 12-10 decision at Mount Olive Friday evening in the series-opening game.

The Pacers are now 7-1 on the young season. The Trojans are 5-2.

After falling behind 11-2 after three innings, head coach Kenny Thomas' team got things going. Nile Goings crossed home after Skylar Mercado singled him in to make it 11-3. Jonathan Banks plated Daulton Weeks in the fifth with a base knock into center field.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, Jose Bonilla was hit by a pitch, driving in Tyler Ammerman. Weeks belted a hit into right field, scoring Conner Durden. Mitchell Price kept things going. He reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Brian Parreira to make it 11-7.

Bonilla hustled home on a wild pitch. Then, Zach Moon roped a double down the left field line to score Price and Weeks. However, USC Aiken was unable to plate the tying run.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Trojans scored an insurance run.

Moon led the way with three hits and three RBI. Banks, Goings, Mercado and Weeks all registered two hits apiece.

Riley took the loss for USC Aiken.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the second game of the series at 12 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.