AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team plated seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in the 15-4 win over Claflin Friday evening.
The Pacers are now 13-18 overall and 5-8 in PBC play.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, interim head coach
Michael Holder's team batted around en route to a seven-run stanza.
Jackson Hannon led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a
Jeff Cyr single,
Nick Tripp doubled both Pacers home.
Carson Suess was hit by a pitch and
Tai Gilbert's groundout moved both runners up.
Jose Hernandez ripped a single that plated two. Hernandez swiped second and scored on
Kaden Blankenship's base knock.
Scott Huntley's triple allowed Blankenship to score and Huntley trotted home on Hannon's double for a six-run edge.
Holder's squad extended the margin to eight when Suess blasted a two-run round-tripper in the second for a 9-1 score. Cyr, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on the play.
In the fourth, USC Aiken tacked on six runs to make it 15-1. During the frame, Hernandez, Blankenship and Huntley all drew bases loaded walks. Huntley scored on a wild pitch while Blankenship and Huntley scored on sacrifice flies by Hannon and
Sean McQuillan, respectively.
The visitors notched a pair of runs in the sixth and one in the seventh for the final tally.
For the game, Hernandez led the way with three RBI. He also crossed home twice. Blankenship, Hannon, Huntley, Suess and Tripp all had two RBI apiece. McQuillan chipped in one RBI. Suess scored three times while Blankenship, Cyr, Huntley and Tripp crossed home twice apiece. Gilbert and Hannon each scored once.
Luke Parker and
Tucker Rabun each registered pinch hits in the game.
On the mound,
Joel Haney worked five frames and picked up the win. He struck out four and did not allow an earned run. Haney gave up two hits and threw 61 pitches.
Jacob Rye came in and tossed the final two innings. He accounted for a pair of strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The first contest is a nine-inning affair while the second game is seven innings. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
