AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team had a huge fifth inning in the 6-3 victory over Lincoln Memorial Friday evening.

It was the season opener for both teams.

Joey Smithers got things going with a solo blast in the bottom of the first inning, giving head coach Kenny Thomas' team a 1-0 advantage.

Trailing 2-1 entering the fourth stanza, Blake Bottomley singled home Alex Mills to knot the score. Mills had reached on a single to straight-away center field. USC Aiken threatened to score more, but the squad left two runners on base.

In the fifth inning, Sean McQuillan singled and moved to second on an infield hit by Smithers. Philip Watcher reached on an error to load the bags. With one down, Conner Durden drew a walk to make it 3-2. Bottomley walked in a run, pushing the score to 4-2. A balk allowed Watcher to score before Bottomley scampered home on a wild pitch for a four-run advantage.

The Railsplitters scratched a run across the plate in the seventh to make it 6-3. However, USC Aiken managed to shut down the visitors the rest of the way.

For the game, Mitch Spence worked five innings to get the win. He gave up two runs on eight hits while striking out five. Daniel Wiggins tossed two frames and struck out two. Lindsey Robinson Jr., threw one inning and struck out a batter. Henry Cartrett worked the ninth, striking out one, while earning the save.

At the plate, Bottomley, McQuillan and Smithers had two hits apiece. Bottomley led the way with two RBI. Smithers crossed home twice in the victory.

Rogers was outstanding in the field, tallying nine assists.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Lincoln Memorial at 12 p.m., in the middle game of the three-game set.