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University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

February 10, 2019: USC Aiken Pacers outfielder Sean McQuillan (8) leads off the bottom of the 5th inning with a base hit during game 3 of an NCAA baseball series against the Shepherd Rams at the Roberto Hernandez Stadium in Aiken, SC. (Artie Walker, Jr./Special to the Aiken Standard)
Artie Walker
4
Florida Southern FSC 4-2
5
Winner USC Aiken USCA 7-2
Florida Southern FSC
4-2
4
Final
5
USC Aiken USCA
7-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida Southern FSC 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 4 10 1
USC Aiken USCA 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 X 5 8 3

W: Sandifer, Austin (1-0) L: Matt Martin (1-1) S: Shuff, Hunter (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Pacers Upend No. 5 Mocs

AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team earned a 5-4 victory over No. 5 Florida Southern Saturday afternoon in a non-conference contest.

The Pacers are now 7-2 on the year while the Mocs fall to 4-2.

Conner Durden gave the home squad a 2-0 edge with a round-tripper to center field in the bottom of the first inning. His smash brought in Philip Watcher, who walked earlier in the frame.

The Mocs pushed across a run in the fourth, but Zach Rafuse was strong through the first five frames. The visitors took a 3-2 lead in the sixth, but the advantage was short-lived. 

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Chandler Rogers ripped a one-out single to left field. Trey Polewski was hit by a pitch and Sean McQuillan walked to load the bases.

Joey Smithers knotted the contest on a fielder's choice as Rogers raced home, but McQuillan was erased on the play. Smithers quickly swiped second base and Polewski scored on an error for a 4-3 lead. Watcher belted a base hit down the left field line, plating Smithers while pushing the score to 5-3.

Florida Southern had the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, but Polewski handled a hard-hit ball and threw it to Mills for the final out, preserving the 5-3 advantage.

The Mocs got the first two batters on base in the top of the ninth, sending head coach Kenny Thomas to the bullpen for Hunter Shuff. With the bases loaded, Shuff registered a swinging strikeout for the first out. A sacrifice fly on the next pitch brought the visitors within one at 5-4. Watcher secured the win after handling the grounder for the final out of the game. 

For the game, Durden and McQuillan pounded out two hits apiece. Durden drove in two while Smithers and Watcher each had one RBI.

On the mound, Rafuse gave up three runs over five frames while striking out four. Austin Sandifer earned the win after throwing one inning of scoreless ball. Daniel Wiggins threw 1.2 frames, striking out two. Lindsey Robinson Jr. tossed one-third of an inning while Shuff picked up the save after going a full inning with one strikeout.  

The Pacers close out the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
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