AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 22 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team posted a 13-1 victory over Francis Marion Friday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.

The Pacers are now 29-10 on the season, including a 13-6 record in league play.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team jumped on top of the visitors in the first frame. Jose Bonilla reached on an error and quickly moved to second base. With two down, Nile Goings singled home Bonilla for a 1-0 edge.

Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Bonilla got things going with an infield bunt. Two batters later, Mitchell Price tripled him home for a 2-1 margin. Goings grounded out to second base, allowing Price to score for a 3-1 advantage.

USC Aiken pushed the score to 6-1 with three runs in the fifth. Tyler Ammerman singled and moved to second on Bonilla's sacrifice bunt. Luke Westerberg singled home Ammerman. Westerberg scampered to second on the throw home before moving to third on Price's single. Goings singled home Westerberg for the four-run lead. With Price on third, Jonathan Banks registered a single to right field on a full count, plating Price.

Skylar Mercado belted a triple to center field with one down in the sixth. He came around to score on Bonilla's grounder.

The home team added to its advantage in the seventh. Price led things off when he took one for the Pacers on a 2-2 pitch. He swiped second and hustled to third on an errant throw. Goings doubled him home. Two pitches later, Banks delivered a one RBI double, scoring Goings.

After Brian Parreira rocketed a single to center field, Mercado doubled to the wall, plating Banks and Parreira. Westerberg singled home Mercado and Ammerman for a 13-1 advantage.

For the game, Banks and Goings had three hits apiece. Goings drove in four runs while Westerberg had three RBI. Banks and Mercado registered two RBI each. Price crossed home three times while Ammerman, Bonilla and Mercado crossed home twice each.

Benitez was once again spectacular on the mound. He worked eight innings and struck out 10, bringing his total to 100 this season. Benitez did not give up an earned run and allowed just five hits in the victory. Connor Norton came in and worked a strong ninth frame to finish off the Patriots.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader against Francis Marion beginning at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.