AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team fell to Mount Olive Sunday afternoon, 12-7.

Christian Aragon got the starting nod on the mound. Through 1.1 innings of work, he gave up five hits and walked two while striking out two.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team fell behind early, giving up seven runs in the top of the second inning. The Pacers fought back though, putting up a run of their own in the bottom of the second. Daulton Weeks lead off with a solo home run that put the Pacers on the board.

The Pacers didn't stop there though, keeping the Trojans at bay for three more innings and pushing two more of their own runs across home in the bottom of the fifth. Chris Schwarzer led off the inning with a single to left field and advanced to second when Chandler Rogers drew a walk. Both base runners advanced as Jose Bonilla grounded out to the pitcher and both were then brought home on a single to center field by Philip Watcher, making it 7-3.

In the top of the sixth Mount Olive struck back, plating four more runs. After a quick seventh inning, the Trojans put one more on the board in the top of the eighth to make it 12-3.

USC Aiken picked up one run in the bottom of the eighth after Hodges got a base on balls and was brought home on a double to center field by Weeks.

After holding Mount Olive in the top of the ninth, the Pacers looked to make a come back with a three run rally. Brady O'Neil popped a single to left field then advanced over to second as Cary Holloway was hit by a pitch. One batter later, Watcher slammed a homer to right center to bring O'Neil, Holloway and himself across home plate to round out the score, making it 12-7.

For the game, Weeks had three hits while Watcher and Schwarzer registered two hits apiece. O'Neil and Nile Goings also each earned a hit. Aragon picked up the loss.

On the mound, Jamie Morlan worked 3.2 innings while giving up no runs and walking one. Garvin Alston Jr. tossed two innings and struck out four while giving up one run and walking one.

The Pacers return to action next Friday, Feb. 23 at home at 7 p.m.