AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 3 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team registered a 19-10 victory over nearby Paine Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference contest at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Pacers improve to 9-2 on the season while the Lions fall to 2-7.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, head coach
Kenny Thomas' team got things going in its first at bat. With one out,
Luke Westerberg drew a walk. On the first offering,
Mitchell Price smacked a two-run homer over the fence for the one-run lead. On the very next pitch, senior
Zach Moon launched a homer for the 3-1 advantage.
USC Aiken added to its advantage in the second inning.
Jose Bonilla walked and went to second when Westerberg was hit by a pitch. The runners moved up on a wild pitch with one down.
Brian Parreira's sacrifice fly drove in Bonilla and a throwing error allowed Westerberg to race across the plate for a 5-2 edge.
The Lions roared back for five runs in the fifth for a 7-5 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, USC Aiken answered the visitors with a big inning of its own. Bonilla led off the frame with a triple to the gap. Westerberg drew a base on balls before Price ripped a double to the gap, plating both student-athletes and knotting the score at 7-7.
Rookie
Alex Mills continued his strong start to his career with a double down the left field line, pushing Moon to third while Price crossed home for an 8-7 margin. With two down,
David Lankster singled home two for a three-run lead, 10-7.
USC Aiken increased its lead in the sixth stanza. With two on, Parreira ripped a double down the right field line, plating Price.
The Pacers managed to increase their lead when
Tyler Ammerman blasted a three-run homer to left field.
In the seventh, Price registered a bases-clearing triple and Mills added a double, scoring one.
The Lions answered with three runs in the eighth before
Daulton Weeks launched a solo round-tripper for the final 19-10 tally.
The Pacers return to action Friday when they host Young Harris at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.