MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to Georgia College & State at the hands of a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth at John Kurtz Field.

The Pacers are now 28-17 on the year and 19-7 in conference play.

Head coach Michael Holder's team scored the first run of the game in the third inning when Jose Hernandez knocked a two-out double down the left field line. He crossed home plate on Josh Sharp's fourth triple of the season.

In the eighth inning, the Pacers threatened to score with two away. A single by Kaden Blankenship followed by a single from Hernandez put runners on the corners. A fly out ended the inning.

Holder's team again threatened in the ninth with singles by Joseph Mozingo and Justin Byrd. Tai Gilbert came into the game as a pinch runner for Mozingo and both he and Byrd stole bases putting runners in scoring position at second and third. A strike out and a fly out halted the Pacers' chances at more runs.

The score remained 1-0 into the bottom of the ninth as both starting pitchers had amazing outings.

Joel Haney got the start for USC Aiken and pitched 7.2 innings giving up five hits with five strikeouts.

In the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on first, GCSU took an offering from USC Aiken and belted the ball over the right center wall scoring two and giving the Bobcats the win.

For the game, Hernandez went two-for-three with a double and scored a run. Mozingo had two singles and Blankenship, Byrd and Jackson Hannon each had a single.

The Pacers complete the three-game series tomorrow with the first pitch at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.