FLORENCE, S.C. – The No. 6 University of South Carolina Aiken men's tennis team registered wins over Augusta and No. 5 Flagler Saturday to earn a berth in the PBC Championship.

The Pacers are now 16-2 on the season.

Head coach Steve Dahm's team jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the doubles point against third-seeded Flagler. Vicente Andrades and Tales Silva notched a 6-4 win at No. 2. After the Saints won at No. 3, the fifth-ranked dyad in Division II knocked off their opponents 7-6 (7-5) to secure the point.

The Pacers fell behind 3-1 with three singles matches in progress. Salvador Bandeira pulled USC Aiken within one after claiming a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 2. Alvaro Garcia Gil dropped the first set before rallying for winning the next two stanzas, knotting the match. Garcia Gil won by scores of 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Antonio Sabugueiro, ranked No. 43 nationally, lost the first set 6-4 at No. 3 singles. However, he battled back to win the second frame 7-6 (7-4) to force a third set. Sabugueiro left no doubt, winning 6-3 to send USC Aiken to the PBC Championship match.

In the opening-round match against Augusta, USC Aiken jumped out to a 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point. The tandem of Bandeira and Sabugueiro bested their opposition 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. Andrades and Silva won by the same score at No. 2.

Tied at 1-1 after the Jaguars won at No. 6, USC Aiken regained a lead by winning at No. 4 and No. 3. Andrades notched a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 4 before Sabugueiro's 6-4, 6-0 score pushed the margin to two at 3-1.

Augusta won at no. 5, but Silva wrapped up the match with his 7-6, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow morning in the PBC Championship against No. 1 Columbus State at 11 a.m.