ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team captured the series sweep against Claflin with a 13-1 final score Sunday afternoon at historic Mirmow Field. It was the second time over the weekend the game was shortened to seven innings due to the run rule.

The Pacers are now 23-11 on the season and 15-3 in the conference. USC Aiken currently has a three-game lead at the top of the PBC.

The sweep of the Claflin marked USC Aiken's fifth sweep of the season after previously defeating Carson-Newman, North Georgia, USC Beaufort and Flagler in all three contests.

Head coach Michael Holder's team started the game with three runs in the first inning. With one out, Jackson Hannon reached base with a single to left field and promptly stole second base. He was knocked in on a single to left by Luke Parker. Parker scored when Joseph Mozingo ripped a single to left and advanced to second on the throw. Kaden Blankenship drove in Mozingo with a double down the left-field line.

The Pacers made it 4-0 with a run in the second frame. James Eckert was walked as the second batter up in the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. He was pushed to third when Hannon singled to center field. A sac fly by Justin Byrd sent Eckert across home plate.

USC Aiken stretched the lead to 5-0 in the third stanza. A single and a passed ball put Mozingo on second base. He advanced to third on a ground out by Nick Tripp. Blankenship brought him home with a single down the left field line.

Holder's team continued to put runs on the board with another in the fourth. Eckert was again walked, stole second, and moved to third on an error by the Panthers. Hannon flied out to center scoring Eckert.

The Panthers scored their only run of the weekend in the fourth shrinking the lead to 6-1.

The Pacers added three insurance runs in the top of the fifth. Mozingo led off the inning with a single and found his way to second after Tripp was hit by a pitch. Blankenship then laid down a perfect bunt advancing both runners and landing himself on first. A walk to Jose Hernandez plated the first run of the inning. A bases-loaded balk pushed the second run across home plate. Kaden Usry, pinch hitting for Marcus Mastellone, lifted a sacrifice fly to right field and scored Blankenship.

In the sixth, USA Aiken padded the box score with three more runs. Tai Gilbert, who had came into the game in the fourth inning to pinch hit for Parker, singled. Tripp doubled to center field scoring Gilbert. Blankenship plated Tripp with a double of his own. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Tyler Littlefield entered the game for Hernandez and reached base on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder that drove in Blankenship.

Holder's team wasn't done yet as they added one more in the seventh. Dalton Graves substituted in for Hannon and was walked. With two outs, Gilbert reached base on a dropped ball sending Graves to third. Graves scored the final run of the game on a single by Mozingo.

For the game, Blankenship went four-for-four with two doubles, two runs and three RBI. Mozingo went four-for-five with three runs and two RBI. Tripp added a double to the scorecard while Hannon had two hits and Parker and Gilbert each had one. Eckert, Hannon and Parker were each credited with a stolen base.

On the mound, Kevin Cox earned his second win of the season with 3.1 innings pitched giving up one run on three hits. Austin Sandifer, Dylan Wilhelm and Byrd combined for 3.2 innings pitched giving up a combined three hits and striking out four.

The Pacers return home to face Augusta on Thursday, April 6 for a three-game conference series. First pitch is at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com