AIKEN, S.C. – After dealing with a schedule change Saturday morning that resulted in an evening doubleheader, the No. 18 University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team split two games with Young Harris.
The Mountain Lions won the first game 12-3 before the Pacers walked it off with a win in the nightcap 4-3.
The Pacers are now 20-10 on the season, including 12-3 in PBC play.
Head coach
Michael Holder's team trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one, but the team quickly got on the board.
Jackson Hannon led off the frame and roped a double to the gap in left center field.
Justin Byrd notched a single up the middle, pushing Hannon to third base.
Luke Parker's double allowed Hannon to trot home. With runners on each base and two away, a full-count walk to
David Jacobs pushed Byrd home, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
YHC managed to plate two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh, but Holder's squad continued to battle. In the bottom of the eighth, Byrd garnered a double to center field. He moved to third on a groundout before scoring on
Joseph Mozingo's base knock to left field.
Kaden Blankenship poked a single past the pitcher into center field to put two Pacers on base, but a deep fly ball ended the stanza.
The Mountain Lions scored four runs in the ninth for the 12-3 final.
For the game, Byrd led the way with three base hits. Hannon and Mozingo had two hits apiece while Blankenship, Parker and Tripp each had one base knock. Jacobs, Mozingo and Parker each drove in a run while Byrd crossed home twice and Hannon once.
Jacob Fletcher got the starting nod and worked six innings. He suffered his first loss of the season but had five strikeouts.
Louie Smith and
AJ Deibel each had a strikeout during their respective times on the hill.
USC Aiken found itself trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, the Pacers got things going.
James Eckert poked the first pitch he saw into left field before swiping second base. An error allowed Hannon to reach while Eckert moved to third. With two outs, Mozingo belted a single to left field, scoring Eckert.
Nick Tripp saw a pitch he liked and promptly jumped all over it, crushing the offering to the gap in left center field, which allowed Hannon to score while Mozingo was held at third base.
Holder's team knotted the score at 3-3 in the eighth. Parker doubled to right center field and scampered to third on a wild pitch before Mozingo knocked him in with a base knocked him in.
After
Justin Byrd moved over to pitch the ninth – successfully with three consecutive strikeouts –
James Eckert doubled off the pitcher's glove to right center field. He moved to third on a wild pitch. YHC shifted the entire defense with Hannon at the plate. The Mountain Lions had only two outfielders and the remaining players of the defense on the infield grass. However, another wild pitch allowed Eckert to race home for the game-winning run.
Eckert led the way with three hits and two runs scored. Mozingo and Tripp had two hits apiece while Mozingo drove in two. Tripp knocked in one run. Hannon and Parker each scored once.
On the mound,
Kevin Cox got the start and had six strikeouts.
Austin Sandifer tossed one strikeout while the national saves leader,
Dylan Wilhelm, struck out one in the eighth. Byrd had three strikeouts while Parker also saw an inning on the bump.
The Pacers return to action Wednesday when they take on Augusta in North Augusta, S.C. First pitch at the Augusta Greenjackets' stadium is slated for 6:35 p.m. Live stats will be available at PacerSports.com.
