ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost the series opener at Flagler by a 7-3 score.

The Pacers fall to 10-17 overall, including 3-7 in league play.

The home squad jumped on the board with a three-run second inning. However, interim head coach Michael Holder's team cut into the deficit with a run in the third.

With one down, Carson Suess took a 2-0 pitch and rocketed it over the left field wall, making it 3-1.

The Saints got the run back in the bottom of the third and tacked on another run in the fourth, pushing the score to 5-1.

USC Aiken struck for a pair of runs in the sixth. With one down, Jose Hernandez came in as a pinch hitter. He fell behind 0-2 before earning a walk. The Pacers had a pair of outs when Jeff Cyr drew a four-pitch walk. Nick Tripp doubled to the gap in left center field that scored both runners.

Flagler pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth and another in the eighth for a 7-3 advantage.  

Cyr registered a base knock in the ninth inning but he was left stranded.

For the game, Tripp had two hits and drove in two. Cyr and Suess each posted hits – with Suess belting the round-tripper. Cyr, Hernandez and Suess all crossed home plate.

Peyton Boozer got the starting nod and worked a pair of innings. He struck out one. Jacob Fletcher came in as a relief pitcher and threw the final six stanzas. He struck out one and forced 11 groundouts.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the middle game of the series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.