AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team used a five-run sixth inning and knocked off Flagler 11-8 in the first game of the weekend series Friday evening.
The Pacers are now 15-5 on the season, including 7-0 in PBC play. The Saints fall to 4-15 on the year and 1-6 against league foes.
Head coach
Michael Holder's team got on the board in the second inning when
Kaden Blankenship blasted an offering high over the left field fence for a solo round-tripper and 1-0 lead.
USC Aiken extended the margin in the third frame.
James Eckert led off the inning with a double to right field and trotted home when
Josh Sharp belted a double to left center field.
Justin Byrd's sacrifice fly allowed Sharp to score for a 3-0 advantage.
The Saints tied it in the fourth with a three-run home run.
Trailing 4-3 in the fifth,
Tyler Littlefield reached on a bunt single and moved to second on an error. With two down, he easily scored on
Jackson Hannon's hard-hit double to straight-away center field. Byrd hit one to the gap in left center field for a 5-4 lead as Hannon scored on the base knock.
Tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Holder's team loaded the bases. With one down, Blankenship singled to right field. Two batters later, Littlefield poked a base hit to right field, pushing Blankenship to third. Eckert drew a walk to load the bases for Sharp. After falling behind in the count, Sharp was hit by a pitch, driving in a run. Hannon garnered a walk, allowing Littlefield to take his time crossing home plate for a 7-5 lead.
After a pitching change, Byrd took the first pitch he saw and cranked a shot to the left field wall, clearing the bases on the double for a 10-5 margin.
Leading 10-8,
Nick Tripp reached on an error. Littlefield blasted a pitch down the right field line, plating Tripp for a three-run margin in the bottom of the seventh.
For the game, Littlefield led the team with three hits, including a double. He had one RBI and scored twice. Blankenship, Byrd and Hannon had two hits apiece. Byrd had two doubles and drove in five runs. Hannon had two RBI and scored twice while Blankenship had one RBI and crossed home twice. Eckert, Sharp and Mastellone had a hit apiece. Eckert scored twice while Sharp had two RBI and scored twice.
On the mound,
Joel Haney got the start and worked five innings. He struck out four.
AJ Deibel threw a frame and garnered a strikeout.
Austin Sandifer worked the seventh and eighth innings and notched three strikeouts.
Dylan Wilhelm tossed the ninth and had a strikeout. Deibel garnered the victory while Wilhelm notched his sixth save.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. With rain in the forecast for Sunday, the teams moved Sunday's contest to Saturday afternoon while moving up the start time.
