AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a hard fought 8-7 game to No. 18 Georgia College Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 9-8 overall and 3-8 in league play. The Bobcats stand at 13-1 on the year and 9-1 in the PBC.

Head coach Kenny Thomas' team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Jackson Hannon led things off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error. After moving to third, he scored on a Luke Leisenring single. Eric McGirt singled to left, putting runners on first and second. After a walk to Trey Polewski, all three came in when Alex Mills reached on a miscue by the Bobcats for the 4-0 edge.

GC scored three runs in the second and three more in the third for a 6-4 lead. Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth, the Pacers plated a pair of runs. Polewski got things going with a leadoff single before scampering to second on a base knock from Mills. After moving to third on a throwing error, Polewski trotted home on a Scott Huntley single to right field. With one down, Hannon lifted a fly ball to right field, allowing Mills to score and make it 7-6.

Down 8-6 in the eighth, Thomas' squad plated a run on a bases loaded walk to Huntley, allowing McGirt to cross home. However, the team was unable to push across the tying run.

For the game, USC Aiken had seven hits. Huntley led the way with two RBI. McGirt and Polewski each crossed home twice. 

On the mound, Zach Fordham got the start and worked two frames. Daniel Wiggins tossed five innings of relief, striking out five. Austin Hohm worked the final two frames in the loss.  

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the final game of the three-game series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.