On March 9, 2017, the USC Aiken baseball team hosted No. 1 Nova Southeastern. At the time, head coach
Kenny Thomas' team was No. 3 in the national rankings, making it one of the top-billed contests in the history of Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
In a back-and-forth affair, the Sharks took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Pacers plated four runs in the bottom of the frame, thanks in part to a two-run blast from Mitchell Price.
NSU took a 5-4 lead with a four-run second, but USC Aiken went ahead in the third after a
Conner Durden RBI single and a
Daulton Weeks fielder's choice.
The Sharks regained the advantage in the fourth with three runs, but a Skyler Mercado round-tripper pulled the home team within one at 8-7.
Pitching took over and neither team scored again until the 8
th. Down 9-7, Tyler Ammerman blasted a 1-0 pitch to make it 9-8.
The Pacers trailed 10-8 in the bottom of the ninth, but Thomas' team battled back. Price started off the ninth with a walk and scooted to second base on a Zach Moon base knock.
Freddie Beamon III came in as a pinch runner for Moon.
After the Sharks changed pitchers, Durden ripped a base hit to right field, plating Price to make it 10-9.
Andre Brown III came in as a pinch runner for Durden.
Nile Goings was hit on a 3-1 pitch, putting two runners on. With one out, Ammerman blasted a single to the gap in right center field. Beamon III trotted home and Brown III beat the throw, giving the Pacers an 11-10 victory over the Sharks.
USC Aiken went on to win two of the three games in the series and took the No. 1 national ranking the following week.
Game Recap
Box Score
Week 6 - Memorable Moments In USC Aiken Athletics History - Baseball's Ninth Inning Comeback Sends Pacers Past No. 1 Nova Southeastern
Week 5 - Memorable Moments In USC Aiken Athletics History - Women's Soccer's Late Surge Produces Tie With No. 10 Wingate
Week 4 - Memorable Moments In USC Aiken Athletics History - USC Aiken Captures Three Consecutive National Championships
Week 3 - Memorable Moments In USC Aiken Athletics History -Â Men's Basketball Makes Historic Run To Final FourÂ
Week 2 - Memorable Moments In USC Aiken Athletics History - Volleyball Captures NCAA Southeast Region Championship
Week 1 - Memorable Moments In USC Aiken Athletics History - Softball Makes Run To PBC Tournament ChampionshipÂ
