Box Score MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The No. 5 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team earned a 9-6 victory at Mount Olive Sunday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 8-2 on the season while the Trojans fall to 6-3.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team had a chance to put up runs in the first, but the squad was unable to. With one down, Jonathan Banks drew a four-pitch walk. Zach Moon worked the count full before drawing a base on balls with two away. Conner Durden was hit by a pitch to load the bags. However, a strikeout ended the threat.

USC Aiken managed to jump on top of the home school in the second frame. Daulton Weeks belted a lead-off homer to left center field for a 1-0 advantage. Skylar Mercado registered a one-out single. Jose Bonilla's single put runners on first and second. With two away, Mitchell Price crushed an offering over the wall for a 4-0 lead.

Trailing 5-4 in the fifth, Durden lifted a solo shot over the left field wall, knotting the contest. The Pacers loaded the bases in the seventh inning with nobody out. Mercado got under the ball and lifted a pitch into right field, scoring Westerberg for a 6-5 lead.

Price led off the eighth with a walk and swiftly stole second base. He raced home on Zach Moon's single to center field. Durden blasted a two-run shot to right field for a 9-5 edge. The Trojans accounted for a run to make it 9-6 heading into the ninth.

For the game, Mercado led the way with three hits. Bonilla, Durden and Weeks notched two hits apiece. Durden and Price led the way with three RBI apiece. The dyad also each crossed home twice.

USC Aiken totaled nine runs on 14 hits.

Nick Yobbi got the start and went five innings. He struck out eight batters. William Ard tossed two innings of scoreless ball to get the win. Blake Cantrell worked the eighth frame before Mitch Spence struck out two en route to earning the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they host Paine in a 2 p.m., contest. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.