AIKEN, S.C. – James Eckert hit a bloop single down the right field line in the bottom of the 10^th inning, securing a 7-6 come-from-behind victory for the University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team Wednesday evening against Francis Marion.

The Pacers are now 5-2 on the season. 

Head coach Michael Holder's team was led by Justin Byrd's three hit-performance. He crushed a two-run home run and drove in three on the day. Eckert notched two hits, drove in one and scored once. Jackson Hannon registered a pair of singles while driving in one and scoring once. Josh Sharp had two hits and scored once. Luke Parker accounted for a pair of hits and scored. Kaden Blankenship drove in a run as well.

Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the third, USC Aiken trimmed the deficit to just two after plating three runs. Eckert got things going with a single to right field before hustling to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Hannon plated Eckert with a base knock to left field. Byrd launched a two-run shot on a full count to make it 5-3.

USC Aiken tied it in the fifth. Parker was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Marcus Mastellone singled to third base. An errant throw allowed Parker to race home, making it 5-4. With Mastellone on third due to the error, Blankenship's base hit to center field knotted the score at 5-5. 

Trailing 6-5 in the seventh inning, Sharp ripped a 2-2 pitch to the wall in left center field. He raced around the bases to leg out a triple. However, USC Aiken hit into a double play, erasing Sharp.

Nick Tripp singled to lead off the eighth. Tai Gilbert came in as a pinch runner and was pushed to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Parker. With two outs, Mastellone was hit by a pitch to put a pair of Pacers on the bases but a deep fly ball ended the stanza.  

With one down in the ninth, Sharp pulled a pitch down the left field line. He raced around second base and a fielding error by the shortstop allowed him to trot to third. A pop fly in shallow center field went down for the second out. Facing a 1-2 count, Byrd jumped on a pitch and ripped it into the outfield, tying the contest at 6-6.  

In the bottom of the 10^th, Parker singled but was erased on a fielder's choice. Tyler Littlefield, who reached on the fielder's choice, moved to second on a groundout. After hustling to third on a wild pitch, Blankenship was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Eckert faced a new pitcher and did not disappoint, getting the game-winning hit in the victory.

On the mound, Dylan Wilhelm worked two innings of relief and picked up two strikeouts en route to the victory. Derek Espinoza had a pair of strikeouts in the game. Matt Garcia and Louie Smith notched three strikeouts apiece in the game. 

The Pacers return to action Friday when they open PBC play at North Georgia starting at 4 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.