AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team picked up a high-scoring 12-10 win over Florida Southern Friday evening.
The Pacers are now 2-1 on the season.
Down 1-0 in the third,
Jeff Cyr tied it with a solo homer to right center field. USC Aiken pushed the score to 7-1 with a six-run fourth.
Nick Tripp walked and moved to third on
Kaden Blankenship's double. After a walk to
Jose Hernandez,
Josh Sharp ripped a single to the gap, plating Tripp and Blankenship. With the bases loaded, Cyr drew a walk to plate Sharp.
Sean McQuillan was hit by the next pitch, scoring
Tyler Littlefield.
Jackson Hannon's base knock on an 0-2 count drove in
Marcus Mastellone and Cyr for a six-run margin.
Blankenship led off the fifth with a solo blast, extending the score to 8-1.
FSC scored eight runs in the sixth, taking a 9-8 lead.
USC Aiken tied it in the bottom half of the frame. With one down, Tripp earned a four-pitch walk. After moving to second on a wild pitch. With the bases full of Pacers, a wild pitch brought in Tripp to make it 9-9.
Interim head coach
Michael Holder's team plated three runs in the eighth for a 12-9 score. Hannon's double to the gap scored Cyr, who got on base via a base on balls. Tripp singled home McQuillan and Blankenship's sacrifice fly scored Hannon for a three-run margin.
FSC cut into the score with a run in the eighth for a 12-10 score.
Peyton Boozer continued his solid performance on the mound. The Mocs threatened in the ninth, but a double play registered the first two outs of the inning.
For the game, Blankenship and Hannon each had a pair of hits. Both had doubles while Blankenship also homered. Cyr and Sharp had two RBI apiece. Cyr crossed home plate three times.
Hunter Steger got the start and worked five innings. He gave up four earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Boozer came in to relieve
AJ Deibel and picked up the win.
Dylan Wilhelm struck out the final batter for the save.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Florida Southern at 2 p.m. Live stats will be available at PacerSports.com.