MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team tacked on five runs over the final two innings to secure the 8-2 win over Georgia College and State University Friday evening in the first game of the three-game series. 

The Pacers are now 28-16 on the season and 19-6 in the PBC.

USC Aiken found themselves down 1-0 at the end of the first inning, but head coach Michael Holder's team tied the game in the top of the second. With two away, Kaden Usry doubled to left field. Next up, Kaden Blankenship hit a double of his own driving in Usry.

In the third inning, back-to-back doubles again put another run on the board for the Pacers. Josh Sharp led the inning off with a double down the left field line and Jackson Hannon followed with the second double down the left field line.

Holder's team increased its lead by two in the top-half of the fifth inning. Jose Hernandez started the frame by reaching first on an error and promptly stole second. He then advanced to third on a groundout. A single by Hannon plated Hernandez.

Hannon had a great night defensively for the Pacers. In the bottom half of the seventh inning, with two runners on, a hard-hit ball to center field that looked like it was going over, was snagged by Hannon whose glove was above the wall. He robbed the Bobcats of the three-run home run and the go-ahead score.

The Bobcats opened the eighth inning by giving up the first walk of the game and GCSU quickly changed pitchers. After the pitching change, Hannon stole second and then third. Justin Byrd singled to right field sending Hannon across home plate. After stealing second, Byrd was driven home on a double by Nick Tripp.

Starting pitcher Jacob Fletcher (7-2) did a masterful job of keeping zeros on the board for the Bobcats as he tallied six swinging strikeouts in his 7.1 innings pitched giving up seven hits.

GCSU added a run in the eighth, but a three-run ninth by the Pacers put the game out of reach.

Blankenship started the inning with a single and stolen base. Sharp put runners on first and second with a single. Hannon loaded the bases with an infield single. With two away, Byrd singled to right scoring Blankenship and Sharp. Luke Parker singled through the right side plating Hannon from second for the final run of the game.

For the game, Hannon went three-for-four with two runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Byrd collected three RBI on two singles. Sharp scored two runs and Byrd, Usry, Blankenship and Hernandez each scored a run. Parker, Tripp, and Blankenship each had an RBI.

Joseph Mozingo, Sharp, Hannon, Tripp, Usry, and Blankenship each hit a double and Byrd, Blankenship, and Hernandez each stole a base.

In relief, Jacob Bodkin gave up a run in two batters faced and AJ Deibel pitched 1.2 innings giving up a hit and striking out two. Deibel collected the save.  

The Pacers return to action tomorrow for game two against the Bobcats with the first pitch at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.