AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team dropped game two of the series against Lander 10-6 Saturday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Pacers are now 29-20 on the year and 19-10 in the Peach Belt Conference.
Head coach
Michael Holder's team got on the board first in the second inning with a lead-off double from
Luke Parker. He was pushed to the hot corner on a ground out by
Kaden Usry. A sacrifice fly by
Nick Tripp scored Parker.
USC Aiken added a second run in the third starting with a perfect bunt laid down the third base line by
Jose Hernandez.
Josh Sharp followed with a sacrifice bunt moving Hernandez to second.
Jackson Hannon plated Hernandez with a double to left center. Back-to-back grounders ended the inning.
The Pacers stretched the lead to 5-0 in the home half of the fourth. Parker took the first pitch he saw and doubled down the left field line. An error placed Usry on first and advanced Parker to third. Tripp doubled driving in Parker and moved Usry to third. A groundout by
Kaden Blankenship pushed Usry across home plate and moved Tripp to third. After a walk to Hernandez, a sac fly drove in Tripp.
The Bearcats tied the score 5-5 in the top of the fifth.
Holder's team regained the lead in the bottom-half of the sixth. Usry found his way to first after being hit by a pitch. With two outs, he was plated on a double by Blankenship. A fly out ended the inning and accounted for the Pacers last run of the game.
Lander added three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to earn the win.
For the game, Parker hit two doubles and scored two runs. Hannon hit a double, a single and collected an RBI. Blankenship and Tripp also each had a double and each collected two RBI, Tripp also scored a run. Byrd, Hernandez, and Sharp each had singles. Usry scored two runs. Sharp collected an RBI.
On the hill,
Joel Haney got the start and pitched 4.2 innings giving up five runs on eight hits while fanning six and walking two.
AJ Deibel suffered his first loss of the season hurling 3.2 frames allowing five runs on six hits and struck out four.
Adam Krissinger pitched the final two thirds of an inning striking out one.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the final game of the regular season. It is also Senior Day for the baseball team. Please join USC Aiken for the festivities at 1:30 p.m. First pitch is at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
