AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team picked up a 3-0 victory over Mount Olive Friday evening in the opening game of a huge three-game series.

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

The visitors had a chance to get on the board in the first, but with runners on first and third with one away, Blake Bottomley tossed out a runner trying to steal second. Then, Zach Rafuse forced a groundout to end the threat.

After each team was rendered scoreless in the second, USC Aiken jumped out on top in the bottom of the third. Bottomley, who had just thrown out a second visiting player trying to steal, smashed the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a 1-0 edge. Four pitches later, Jose Bonilla's opposite field shot pushed the lead to 2-0 for head coach Kenny Thomas' team.

The Pacers tacked on a run in the fourth when Philip Watcher launched a two-out solo round-tripper to right field for the 3-0 margin and final tally.

UMO recorded a base runner in the fifth and sixth frames, but threatened once again in the eighth. Garvin Alston Jr. came in as a relief pitcher and made quick work of two of the first three batters he faced. However, he walked one to put two on with two out. Two pitches later, Alston Jr. got out of the frame by forcing a fly ball to Bonilla.

Freddie Beamon III came in after the first batter in the ninth walked. He quickly struck out one and forced another into a fly ball out. After allowing a walk, Beamon III forced a grounder to Chandler Rogers for the unassisted putout to end the game.

For the game, Bonilla and Watcher had two hits apiece. Bottomley and Conner Durden each had a base hit.

Rafuse worked seven strong innings, striking out four while walking one. He gave up just four hits. Alston Jr. struck out one in an inning of work while Beamon III tallied the save after pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Mount Olive at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.