DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team blanked the University of North Georgia 7-0 Sunday afternoon, completing the weekend sweep.

The Pacers are now 8-2 overall, including 3-0 in league play. The Nighthawks fall to 4-5 overall and 0-3 in the PBC.

Head coach Michael Holder's team was led by Luke Parker who went three-for-four with one double and two singles. He scored twice and had two RBI and a steal. James Eckert, Josh Sharp, and Marcus Mastellone each had two hits. Mastellone scored once and collected two RBI. Sharp scored once while collecting an RBI of his own. Eckert also picked up an RBI. 

Jacob Fletcher had an outstanding afternoon on the mound getting the start and the shutout win while working eight innings allowing only three hits with eight strikeouts. Fletcher improves to 2-0 on the season. Louie Smith worked an inning of relief allowing one hit, completing the shutout. 

USC Aiken registered its first run in the second inning when Parker crossed the bag after Nick Tripp reached base on error and advanced to second on an error by the Nighthawks first baseman. Parker had reached base with a double earlier in the inning.

In the fifth, Kaden Blankenship opened the inning with a triple down the right field line and then scored after Sharp singled through the left side.
 
The Pacers scored twice in the seventh after Jose Hernandez doubled to open the frame. He would score after Mastellone singled up the middle. Two batters later, Eckert singled up the middle scoring Mastellone, who had advanced to second on a grounder by Blankenship.

USC Aiken added its fifth run in the eighth with Parker crossing home plate after being walked, advancing to second on a Tripp grounder and then scoring on a single through the left side by Mastellone.  

The Pacers tacked on two more in the top of the ninth. Sharp was walked as the second batter up in the inning and advanced to third two batters later as Justin Byrd singled up the middle. Parker singled up the middle at the next at bat and drove in both Byrd and Sharp.

For the game, USC Aiken compiled seven runs on 13 hits. The Nighthawks had zero runs on four hits and an error.

The Pacers return to action Friday, Feb. 24 at home against the Embry-Riddle Eagles. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com for the 4 p.m. first pitch.