Baseball | July 27, 2018

Top 10 Stories Of The 2017-18 Academic Year – No. 5: USC Aiken Baseball Defeats Nationally-Ranked Columbus State Four Times

Prior to the start of fall practice, USC Aiken will take one last look back at the top-10 moments from the 2017-18 athletic year. Over the next week, we will post the remainder of the list!

One of the best moments on the year combined four victories from the baseball program over nationally-ranked and NCAA runner-up Columbus State. The Pacers swept the Cougars in Aiken, S.C., during the regular season before downing the future NCAA Southeast Region champions in the PBC Tournament.

USC Aiken Tops No. 9 Columbus State In Series Opener (March 23)

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.

Spence And Parreira Help USC Aiken Cage The No. 9 Cougars (March 24)

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken claimed a 5-2 victory over No. 9 Columbus State in a conference contest Saturday afternoon thanks in part to a dominating pitching performance by Mitch Spence and a grand slam from Brian Parreira.

The Pacers are now 19-9 overall, and 10-4 in Peach Belt play. The Cougars fall to 22-4 overall, including an 8-2 record against conference foes.

The visitors jumped on top with a run in the first inning. Both teams remained quiet until the Cougars struck again in the top of the sixth, scoring one run in the stanza. However, in the bottom of the inning, head coach Kenny Thomas' team went to work.

Following a Jose Bonilla walk, Daulton Weeks cracked a double down the left field line, pushing Bonilla to third base. Nile Goings was intentionally walked to load the bases for Brian Parreira who promptly blasted a grand slam over the right field fence for the 4-2 advantage.

The Pacers would tack on another run in the seventh inning when Conner Durden reached on an error, allowing Jose Bonilla on third to cross home plate for the 5-2 lead.  

The Cougars threatened to score in the ninth with runners on first and second with one outs, but Spence forced a pop fly to center field, followed by a pop out to second base to end the game.

For the game, Weeks led the way with two hits, including a double. Brian Parreira had four RBI in the contest by way of a grand slam. Goings accounted for a double and a run scored while Bonilla crossed home twice.

Spence was spectacular on the mound, turning in a complete-game performance. He struck out a career-high 15 batters while only allowing two hits.

Pacers Contain Cougars For Series Sweep (March 25)

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team completed the sweep of No. 9 Columbus State Sunday afternoon following a 3-1 victory.

Both teams remained quiet offensively through two innings. The Cougars managed to load the bases in the top of the second frame with two outs. However, Christian Aragon was able to force a pop up to shortstop Chandler Rogers to end the threat.

In the bottom of the third, the Pacers would show signs of life. USC Aiken managed to load the bases following three consecutive walks to Jose Bonilla, Daulton Weeks, and Conner Durden, respectively. Nile Goings blasted a single into left field, plating both Bonilla and Weeks for the 2-0 advantage. The hit proved to be more than enough for the win. After advancing to third, Durden was able to cross home plate following a throwing error by the catcher, increasing the Pacer lead to 3-0.

The Cougars were able to plate one run in the top of the eighth and were looking to make a comeback in the top of the ninth. However, Brooks Calvo forced two groundouts and a flyout in the stanza to end the game.

For the contest, Goings led the way with two hits and two RBI. Durden registered a hit, while also recording two walks and scoring a run.

On the mound, Aragon was dominant, recording eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings while allowing a mere four hits. Calvo picked up the save after working two innings while only allowing one run and one hit.

Pacers Win Two On Saturday To Earn Berth In PBC Championship (May 12)

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team won a pair of games in pool play Saturday at the PBC Tournament, propelling the team to Sunday's PBC Championship. The squad bested Columbus State 4-1 before downing Flagler 4-2.

The Pacers are now 35-18 on the season.

Against third-seeded and No. 10 Columbus State, head coach Kenny Thomas' team fell behind 1-0 before jumping in front with a two-run second inning. With one down, Conner Durden walked before trotting to second thanks in part to a balk. Joey Smithers doubled to right field, putting two on base. Philip Watcher's single plated Durden. Brady O'Neil's groundout allowed Smithers to score for a 2-1 advantage.

In the third, Jose Bonilla singled and scampered to second on a Daulton Weeks' single. Brian Parreiraripped a base knock through the left side, plating Bonilla for a 3-1 lead.

Christian Aragon continued his dominance of the Cougars, keeping the visitors off the base paths.

In the sixth, Thomas' team broadened the working margin with another run. Smithers got things started with a double. With one down, O'Neil singled and Smithers went to third. A sacrifice bunt allowed Smithers to score for what turned out to be the final margin.

For the game, Smithers and Weeks had two hits apiece. Smithers also scored twice.

Aragon worked eight frames, striking out six. He gave up one run on six hits and only walked three. Daniel Wiggins worked a perfect ninth frame, striking out two. Aragon improved to 9-1 with the win while Wiggins picked up his fourth save.

In the second game of the day, Flagler jumped on top with a run in the first. However, USC Aiken knotted the contest in the third when O'Neil scored on a ground ball out.

USC Aiken took a 4-1 lead in the fifth. Bonilla laced a one-out single up the middle. He moved to second when Weeks walked. Two pitches later, Parreira rocketed a round-tripper over the right field wall for the three-run advantage.  

The Pacers would not need any more offense in the game as Zach Rafuse worked 7.2 frames en route to earning the victory. He struck out five and gave up just two runs on 10 hits. Wiggins came into the game for the final four outs. He struck out two and picked up his fifth save of the season.

At the plate, Bonilla and Rogers shared team-best accolades with two hits apiece.