AIKEN, S.C. – With emotions running high for the home finale the University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a hard-fought 7-5 non-conference contest to Georgia Southwestern Tuesday evening.

The Pacers are now 19-16 on the season. The Hurricanes improve to 18-19.

USC Aiken jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. James Eckert led things off with a single and moved to second on a Morgan Hyde base hit. Jackson Hannon's single made it 1-0. With runners on the corners, Hannon stole second. Leo Horacio's bunt single allowed everyone to move up 90 feet. The Pacers extended the margin to 3-0 on a double steal with Horacio swiping second and Hannon stealing home.

The Hurricanes trimmed the deficit to just two with a solo homer in the second inning.

With two down in the third, Nick Tripp singled to left field. He moved to second on Horacio's base hit to center field. Jeff Cyr brought both student-athletes home on a double down the left field line, giving the home squad a 5-1 advantage.

GSW made it 5-2 in the fifth before registering a five-run sixth inning for a 7-5 lead.

In the seventh, Hyde recorded a double with one away, but he was left stranded. The home squad continued to battle, but it was unable to plate the tying runs.

For the game, Eckert, Hannon, Horacio and Hyde had two hits apiece. Cyr accounted for two RBI in the contest. Cyr and Hyde accounted for a pair of doubles in the game.

It marked the final home game for the seniors and head coach Kenny Thomas, who is retiring after the season.

The Pacers return to action Saturday when they play at Lander for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.