AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team overcame an early deficit to notch a 7-5 win over Shepherd Friday evening.

The Pacers are now 4-1 on the season while the Rams fall to 0-4.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second, head coach Kenny Thomas' team sliced the deficit to one. Luke Leisenring singled to right field with one away. Trey Polewski singled before Sean McQuillan brought home Leisenring with another base knock to make it 2-1.

USC Aiken knotted the contest at 2-2 in the fourth when Chandler Rogers brought in Leisenring on a groundout. Leisenring reached on a pitch earlier on a triple to the right field corner.

In the fifth, the Pacers took a 3-2 lead when Alex Mills singled to left, bringing home Joey Smithers, who had reached earlier in the frame thanks in part to a base on balls.

Trailing 4-3 in the sixth, Leisenring smashed a solo shot to right field to tie the game. USC Aiken jumped ahead when McQuillan singled in Polewski, who had walked with two away. Rogers singled home Blake Bottomley in the seventh for a 6-4 advantage.

The Rams pulled within one in the eighth, but it was as close as they would get. Philip Watcher made it a two-run game heading to the ninth when he laid down a bunt, allowing McQuillan to race home from third.

For the game, Leisenring led the way with a four-for-four performance. He had a pair of singles, a triple, a home-run and scored three runs. Mills, McQuillan and Smithers had two hits apiece. McQuillan and Rogers drove in two apiece.  

Mitch Spence got the start on the mound and worked 4.2 innings. He struck out seven. Jon Yarbrough tossed 1.2 frames and struck out three en route to the win. Henry Cartrett finished the last 1.1 innings and picked up his second save of the year. He struck out three batters.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the middle game of the series. First pitch is at 12 p.m.