AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 15 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team registered a resounding 8-2 victory over regionally-ranked Catawba Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers conclude the regular season with a 38-11 record. Head coach Kenny Thomas' team registered a 27-4 record at Roberto Hernandez Stadium for 2017.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, USC Aiken quickly tied the contest. Jose Bonilla reached on a single but was erased on a fielder's choice by Luke Westerberg. Mitchell Price's double to right center field knotted the contest at 1-1.

The home squad took a 2-1 lead with a run in the second. With one away, Daulton Weeks doubled to left center. He came home on a base knock from Skylar Mercado.

Tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the third stanza, the Pacers plated a pair of runs and never looked back. Westerberg led off the frame with a double. Two pitches later, Price drove him in with a double of his own. Three batters later, Zach Moon hit a bouncing ball to second base. However, the fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Price to score for the two-run advantage.

USC Aiken broke open the game in the sixth with three more runs. Mercado drew a one-out walk and moved to second on Tyler Ammerman's single to right field. Bonilla singled home Mercado to make it 5-2.

Westerberg was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Price increased the lead to five with an opposite-field single, scoring Ammerman and Bonilla.

In the eighth, Ammerman continued the offensive explosion with an opposite field solo round-tripper for an 8-2 advantage.

For the game, Bonilla and Price registered three hits apiece. Bonilla had a triple while Price garnered a pair of doubles. Price led everyone with four RBI. Ammerman and Mercado notched two hits each. Ammerman and Westerberg each crossed home twice.

Joseph Benitez tied the school record with 11 wins. He tied the mark established by Peden Rucker in 2008. Benitez also moved into the top 10 in PBC history for single-season strikeouts. For the game, he went seven innings and struck out 10. Benitez now has 125 strikeouts on the season, which is second most in school history. He has now worked 103 frames, which is seventh most in a single year at USC Aiken.

Nick Yobbi tossed the final two stanzas in the victory, tallying a strikeout.

The Pacers return to action Wednesday, May 10 for the first round of the PBC Tournament. The squad takes on Lander at 1:30 p.m. The contest takes place at Francis Marion.