TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost an 11-1 game at No. 2 Tampa Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 4-4 on the season while the Spartans improve to 7-1.

Jeff Cyr and Sean McQuillan each had two hits apiece for interim head coach Michael Holder's team. Cyr had the team's lone extra base knock – a double. Josh Sharp drove in the team's lone run while Dalton Graves crossed home plate.

Tampa jumped on top with seven runs over the first three innings of work while holding the Pacers off the scoreboard until the ninth.

In the fourth, Cyr led off the frame with a double to left center, but a double play quelled the threat. USC Aiken put a runner in scoring position in the sixth. Sharp led off with a single. With one down, he moved to second on a wild pitch. However, two straight outs ended the inning.

Nick Tripp reached on an error to lead off the seventh. With one down, Joseph Mozingo drew a walk. A fielder's choice put Tripp on third, but a fly ball ended the frame. Jackson Hannon singled in the eighth and was pushed to second on a Sean McQuillan base knock.

USC Aiken got on the scoreboard in the ninth. Graves singled and moved to second on Mozingo's base hit. Tucker Rabun's single loaded the bags. Sharp reached on a fielder's choice that plated Graves.

On the mound, Austin Sandifer worked 1.1 innings and took the loss. Louie Smith worked 3.2 frames and had three strikeouts. Evan Condon tossed one frame and struck out two. AJ Deibel and Connor O'Rear each worked a frame.  

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