AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a 12-1 decision at Augusta in the series opener Friday afternoon.

The Pacers are now 15-19 on the year, including 7-9 in league play.

The Jaguars jumped on top with a four-run first inning. The home team kept USC Aiken off the scoreboard while tacking on another run in the fourth.

Interim head coach Michael Holder's team plated a run in the sixth inning to make it 5-1. Nick Tripp reached on an error by the left fielder and moved to second on a groundout. Tripp hustled to third on a passed ball. With two down, Kaden Blankenship belted a pitch into left field, allowing Tripp to come home for what turned out to be the Pacers' lone run of the game.

After Blankenship's base knock, Scott Huntley was hit by a pitch. USC Aiken, however, was unable to push across any more runs after a pitching change.

The Jaguars managed to score two runs in the sixth and five in the seventh, resulting in the run rule.

The Pacers had base runners throughout the game. Sean McQuillan registered a first-inning single. In the second frame, Carson Suess walked and moved to second on a Tai Gilbert single to center field, but three consecutive outs ended the threat.

Holder's team put two runners on in the third. With two down, McQuillan reached on a single to right field and got to third when Jeff Cyr reached on a miscue. The fourth inning saw Blankenship pick up a hit while Jackson Hannon had a hit in the fifth.

For the game, Blankenship and McQuillan had two hits apiece while Gilbert and Hannon each had one.

Joel Haney worked five innings and had four strikeouts. Peyton Boozer picked up a strikeout while Hunter Steger also saw time on the mound.  

The teams return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Live video will be available at PacerSports.com.