AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team bested No. 9 Columbus State Friday evening in a league contest by a score of 7-4.

The Pacers are now 18-9 on the season and 9-4 in PBC play. The Cougars are 22-3 overall, including an 8-1 record against conference foes.

The visitors jumped on top with a run in the second and two in the fifth before head coach Kenny Thomas' team battled back.

Despite having multiple opportunities in the early going, USC Aiken was held scoreless until the sixth frame. Daulton Weeks led off the stanza with a single to right field. He scampered to third on a Nile Goings double. Brian Parreira got the home team on the board with a base knock to center field. Joey Smithers followed him up with a bunt that turned out to be an infield single. Goings scored on the play. Philip Watcher tied the game on another bunt single. The Pacers had a pair of runners on base, but could do no further damage in the inning.

After the Cougars regained the lead by plating a run in the top of the seventh, Thomas' squad answered quickly, scoring four in the bottom half of the stanza.

Weeks singled and promptly swiped second base. He moved to third on a groundout before trotting home on another double by Goings. Parreira ripped a single down the right field line, allowing Goings to race home for a 5-4 advantage.

Two batters later, Watcher doubled in Parreira and Smithers, who had reached on a single. The hit brought the score to 7-4 in favor of USC Aiken.

Zach Rafuse worked 6.1 innings on the mound and struck out six batters. Daniel Wiggins came in for the final 2.2 frames and picked up the win, improving to 4-1.

For the game, Goings led the team with three base hits, including a pair of doubles. Parreira, Smithers and Watcher had two hits apiece. Watcher drove in a game-best three runs while Parreira batted in two teammates. Goings and Parreira each crossed home plate twice.

The victory by the Pacers snapped CSU's 16-game winning streak.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the second game of the series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.