GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team used a pair of four-run innings en route to a 12-4 victory at Lander.

The Pacers are now 24-17 on the year, including a 14-9 mark in league play.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team broke open the game in the fourth with four runs. Jackson Hannon singled home Sean McQuillan for a 1-0 lead. Philip Watcher's base hit plated Luke Leisenring and Conner Durden. Chandler Rogers ended the scoring in the stanza when his single plated Brady O'Neil.

Rogers pushed the margin to 5-1 with a single that plated Durden in the fifth. Leading 5-2 in the sixth, Joey Smithers smacked a pitch to right field to score McQuillan. With the bags full of Pacers, Watcher doubled to clear the bases, giving the visitors a 9-2 advantage. The margin was extended to eight when Leisenring reached on a fielder's choice in the seventh, allowing McQuillan to once again cross home plate.

Rogers scored on an error in the eighth. Two batters later, Trey Polewski raced home on a wild pitch for a 12-2 margin. The Bearcats scored two in the eighth for the final tally.

Zach Rafuse worked seven frames to pick up the win. He struck out four and gave up just two earned runs on eight hits. Daniel Wiggins and Jacob Rye each worked one inning. Rye struck out the side.


Watcher led the way with three hits and five RBI. Durden garnered three hits and scored three times. Hannon, McQuillan and Rogers had two hits apiece and McQuillan scored three times. O'Neil trotted home twice.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the final game of the series starting at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.