AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team swept Saturday's doubleheader at Augusta by scores of 8-6 and 3-2.

The Pacers are now 17-19 on the season, including a 9-9 effort in league play.

Interim head coach Michael Holder's team jumped on top of the home team with three runs in the second inning. Kaden Blankenship led off the frame with a base hit to right and moved to third on Tai Gilbert's single to center field. Josh Sharp's double brought both runners home. With two outs, Nick Tripp struck out but managed to reach first on a wild pitch, allowing Sharp to cross home for the three-run advantage.

USC Aiken tacked on a pair of runs in the third. Sharp ripped a double to right field, allowing Blankenship to score while pushing Gilbert to third. Jackson Hannon's sacrifice fly plated Gilbert for a 5-0 lead.

Leading 5-3 in the fifth, a bunt single from Hannon put runners on first and second. With two away, Jef Cyr's base knock drove in Tyler Littlefield, who reached earlier on a single.

The Pacers tacked on a run in the seventh and ninth for a 9-2 margin. Littlefield's double drove in Sharp in the seventh while Hannon's sacrifice fly plated Sharp in the ninth.

The Jaguars tried to post a comeback in the ninth. AU scored four runs and had the bases loaded, but Luke Parker struck out the final two batters, securing the win.

For the game, Sharp had four hits, including two doubles and a triple, while driving in three and scoring three times. Blankenship, Cyr, Gilbert and Littlefield had two hits apiece.   Hannon drove in two while Blankenship and Gilbert crossed home twice apiece.

AJ Deibel got the start and worked 7.1 innings to pick up the win. He struck out a pair of Jaguars. Austin Sandifer had a strikeout while Parker had two strikeouts.

In game two, the Jaguars took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Holder's squad sliced the deficit to one in the second stanza. Sharp singled but was erased on a fielder's choice. Dalton Graves singled, sending Blankenship to third. Scott Huntley got into the action with a base knock to right, scoring Blankenship.

The score remained the same until the visitors knotted it in the fifth. With one down, Sean McQuillan was hit by a pitch. Cyr's base hit sent McQuillan to third. He scored on a sacrifice fly from Tripp, tying the game.

USC Aiken nearly won it in the seventh as Hannon doubled and went to third on a groundout. However, a line drive to center field ended the threat. With solid pitching, the Pacers sent the game into extra innings.

USC Aiken scored what turned out to be the game-winning run in the eighth. Tripp singled and Gilbert came in as a pinch runner. After moving to second on a groundout, Graves registered a two-out single. Gilbert raced home for the 3-2 edge.

The Jaguars had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, AU had a runner on third. However, a line drive to left field was snagged by Sharp, ending the game.

For the game, Sharp led the way with three hits and one RBI. McQuillan had two hits and scored a run. Huntley and Tripp each drove in one while Blankenship and Gilbert also scored.

On the mound, Jacob Fletcher worked seven innings and struck out five to get the win. Sandifer tossed a scoreless ninth for the save.

The Pacers return to action Tuesday when they host Lenoir-Rhyne at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.