AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team registered a 5-4 victory over the Georgia College Bobcats Sunday afternoon.
The Pacers are now 11-6 overall, including a 4-2 conference record. The Bobcats fall to 11-6 overall and are 8-1 in league play.
Georgia College struck first, scoring one run in the second inning. Holding the Pacers scoreless through three innings, the Bobcats would strike again in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs. However, with two outs in a runner on second base,
Daniel Wiggins garnered a strikeout to end the stanza and prevent further damage.
The Pacers responded in the bottom of the inning when
Nile Goings smacked a solo home run over the left field wall, closing the gap to 4-1.
In the top of the sixth, Wiggins got some help from his defense. After allowing a double with one out, Wiggins forced a pop-up to shallow right field where
Brian Parreira made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch. The runner on second attempted to tag up following the catch, but was thrown out by Parreira after spinning around and making a perfect throw to third base to end the frame.
The Pacers would bring that momentum into the bottom of the inning. With one out,
Conner Durden singled to left field, followed by a Goings walk. Parreira laced a single to left field, loading the bases for
Daulton Weeks, who would hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Durden and advancing Goings to third. However, the Pacers were unable to cause further damage in the inning.
Wiggins would continue his sensational performance on the mound, retiring the side in both the seventh and eighth innings while recording two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, head coach
Kenny Thomas' team would go on the offensive. Durden began the stanza with a single to right field. With one away, Parreira blasted a single to right field, pushing Durden to second, followed by a Weeks walk, loading the bases.
Philip Watcher singled to second base, scoring one run on the play. With two out,
Chandler Rogers singled to right field, scoring Watcher and Weeks for a 5-4 advantage.
The Bobcats would not give up however, threatening to score with a runner on third base and one away in the inning.
Blake Seigler was able a force a ground ball to third base, where Weeks would make a fantastic throw to home plate, nailing the runner trying to score. With two outs and a runner on second, Seigler forced a groundball to
Joey Smithers, who promptly tossed the ball to Parreira at first the end the game.
Goings, Durden, Parreira and Rogers each registered two hits in the contest. Goings recorded a double and a home run while Rogers accounted for two RBI to take the lead in the eighth.
On the mound, Wiggins turned in a masterful performance, working 4.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out four while picking up the win.
Christian Aragon worked 3.2 innings, allowing only one earned run. Seigler earned the save after working 0.2 scoreless innings.
The Pacers return to action Tuesday evening when they host Chowan at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
