AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost an 8-2 decision to Columbus State Saturday afternoon in the first game of the series.

The Pacers are now 8-11 on the season. The team is also 2-2 in PBC play.

Interim head coach Michael Holder's team got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Nick Tripp was hit by a pitch and moved to second with a one-out single from Marcus Mastellone. Scott Huntley's base knock pushed Tripp home for the 1-0 advantage.

CSU jumped on top with a four-run fourth. The Cougars did not manage a hit in the frame, but five walks and two batters were hit by a pitch.

The Pacers threatened in the fifth but a runner was picked off second base and then a double play ended the threat.

The Cougars managed to get their first hit with two outs in the sixth. The visitors managed to plate a pair of runs in the seventh and another in the eighth for a 7-1 advantage.

Huntley reached on an error to start the eighth. Dalton Graves recorded a pinch hit single, putting runners on first and second. After a pitching change, Sean McQuillan walked to load the bases with nobody out. Jackson Hannon lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, pulling the Pacers within five at 7-2. However, USC Aiken could not push across another run in the stanza.  

For the game, Mastellone and McQuillan each had a pair of hits. Hannon and Huntley each drove in a run while Huntley and Tripp each crossed home plate.

On the mound, Hunter Steger took the loss. He struck out seven in 3.2 innings. AJ Deibel tossed 3.1 innings while Connor O'Rear saw two innings of work and had a strikeout.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader against the Cougars at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.