AMERICUS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a 5-1 decision to Georgia Southwestern Friday evening in a league contest.

The Pacers are now 15-8 overall and 6-4 in league play.  

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning via a homer.

USC Aiken had a chance to get on the board in the first inning, but was unable to push across any runs. Jose Bonilla led off the game with an opposite field base knock, but was erased on a fielder's choice. With two down, Nile Goings roped a single to left field, but a line drive ended the stanza.

After Zach Rafuse had no trouble retiring the Hurricanes through the first three innings, Daulton Weeks gave the visitors a 1-0 edge when he launched a two-out round-tripper over the left field fence in the fourth.

In the sixth, Georgia Southwestern managed to plate three runs, giving the home squad a 3-1 advantage.

USC Aiken put a pair of runners on base in the seventh, but neither managed to cross home plate, keeping the score at 3-1.

The Hurricanes pushed the margin to 5-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Philip Watcher and Blake Bottomley reached base in the ninth, but the Hurricanes kept Thomas' team from pushing across any runs for the 5-1 final.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the second game of the series at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.