GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team recorded an 8-2 win at Lander Saturday afternoon.
The Pacers are now 20-26 on the season, including 12-14 in league play.
Head coach
Michael Holder's team jumped on top with a run in the top of the first.
Sean McQuillan tripled to lead off the game. Three batters later, a
Nick Tripp sacrifice fly made it 1-0.
Lander tied the game in the bottom of the first and from that point forward, the score remained tied until USC Aiken unleashed its offensive firepower with a five-run seventh inning.
Kaden Blankenship got things going with a single through the left side. A
Scott Huntley base hit put two on. McQuillan laid down a sacrifice bunt, pushing the Pacers up 90 feet.
Jeff Cyr's double made it 3-1 as Blankenship and Huntley both trotted home.
With two down, Tripp plated Cyr with a single to the gap in left center field.
Dalton Graves was hit by a pitch and
Joseph Mozingo drew a walk to load the bags.
Josh Sharp ripped a base hit back up the middle, scoring Tripp and Graves for a 6-1 lead.
USC Aiken got back at it with two runs in the eighth. With one away, McQuillan reached on a single before hustling to third on a double by Cyr.
Jackson Hannon belted a pitch up the middle, driving in McQuillan and Cyr for an 8-1 advantage.
The Bearcats scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, but USC Aiken controlled the game throughout.
Cyr led the way with a four-hit performance, including two on doubles. He drove in two and scored twice. McQuillan registered three hits, including a three-bag hit. He scored twice. Hannon had two hits and two RBI while Blankenship registered two hits and scored once. Sharp and Tripp each had one hit and drove in two apiece.
On the mound,
Joel Haney was once again outstanding. He gave up just one run on seven hits. Haney struck out four and walked just one en route to earning the victory.
Luke Parker tossed the final two frames and had three strikeouts.
With the victory, the Pacers secured the No. 7 seed in the upcoming PBC Tournament.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the final game of the regular-season. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
