ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team blanked Claflin University in a weather stretched doubleheader on Saturday afternoon with 11-0 and 10-0 wins at historic Mirmow Field. 

The Pacers are now 22-11 on the season and 14-3 in the PBC. 

The pitches came early and so did the runs for head coach Michael Holder's team. Incoming inclement weather forced USC Aiken and Claflin to start game one at 11 a.m. on Saturday. 

After a one, two, three top of the first inning, the Pacers were able to put one on the board in the top of the second by way of a solo round-tripper over the left field fence by Nick Tripp. 

The second run of the game for Holder's team came in the fourth when Tripp doubled to right center scoring Justin Byrd. Jose Hernandez scored Tripp and Joseph Mozingo with his first home run of the day over the center field wall making the score 5-0. 

In the fifth, James Eckert scored the sixth run of the contest when Byrd hit a sac fly to left field. 

USC Aiken added two in the sixth after Mozingo reached first on a single to left and Tripp brought them both home on his fourth home run of the season to left center. 

In the seventh, the Pacers added three to the board after Tai Gilbert crossed home plate on a double by Kaden Blankenship. Gilbert had previously reached base on a walk. Hernandez hit his second home run of the day to score himself and Blankenship making the score 11-0. With the run rule in effect, the game was stopped after the seventh frame.

For the game, Tripp went three-for-four with two home runs, a double, three runs and three RBI. Hernandez also hit two homeruns on two-for-four hitting with two runs and five RBI. Blankenship went two-for-four with a double, a run and an RBI.  Eckert and Marcus Mastellone also had two hits. Tripp scored three runs, Mozingo and Hernandez had two and Eckert, Byrd, Blankenship and Gilbert each had one. Byrd had an RBI. 

Joel Haney got the start and his second win of the season with five innings pitched giving up only five hits with five strikeouts against one walk. Parker pitched 2.0 innings in relief giving up no hits with four strikeouts and a walk. 

Game two began near the original 4 p.m. start after rain passed through the area and delayed the first pitch. 

USC Aiken started right where they left off - earning runs early by plating two in the first inning. Both Eckert and Jackson Hannon scored after Eckert was hit by a pitch and Hannon singled down the left field line. Parker scored Eckert on a ground out while a double by Mozingo knocked in Hannon. 

Holder's team added two more in the second when Blankenship hit his second home run of the season and Eckert scored on a single by Hannon. 

The Pacers added three in the seventh. Parker scored an unearned run after Blankenship reached base on error and advanced to second on the throw. Kaden Usry singled plating Mozingo. Eckert drew a bases-loaded walk pushing Blankenship home for the third run of the inning.

USC Aiken scored three more in the top of the ninth starting with Tripp reaching first on a throwing error by the shortstop. A walk by Blankenship and a groundout by Usry put runners at second and third. Hernandez knocked his third home run of the day, and fifth of the season, over right center scoring Blankenship and Tripp.  

For the game, Blankenship went two-for-three with his home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Mozingo went two-for-five with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Hannon went two-for-five with a run, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Eckert and Usry each had a hit while Eckert added two stolen bases. Three runs were scored by Blankenship, two by Eckert and one each by Hannon, Parker, Mozingo, Tripp, and Hernandez. 

Jacob Fletcher earned his sixth win of the season pitching seven innings and giving up just two hits with eight strikeouts. Cole Evilsizor, Aaron Flink, and Jacob Bodkin combined for two innings giving up zero hits and only one walk. 

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the conclusion of the three-game series against the Panthers. Live video will be available at PacerSports.com for the 1 p.m. first pitch.