AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team dropped the series finale 6-3 to Augusta University Friday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Pacers are now 25-12 on the season and 17-4 in the Peach Belt Conference.
The Jaguars were up 5-0 in the top of the fifth when the Pacers reduced the lead by one.
Head coach
Michael Holder's team got started when
Luke Parker reached second on a fielding error.
Kaden Blankenship grounded out but advanced Parker to third.
Jose Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to right field plating Parker.
USC Aiken threatened in the bottom of the sixth after
Josh Sharp was walked and
Justin Byrd advanced him to second on a single.
Joseph Mozingo moved Sharp to third with a pop fly to right. With runners on the corners and two outs, the rally ended with a flyout.
In the top of the seventh, Augusta added a run to the board with a solo home run.
The Pacers threatened again in the home half of the seventh when Blankenship was walked with one out. After the second out,
Kaden Usry was walked and advanced Blankenship. Sharp singled to right field loading the bases. A five-pitch walk to
Jackson Hannon added a run for the home team, but a soft grounder to second ended the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, with two out, three straight walks loaded the bases. Mozingo reached base on a fielder's choice scoring Sharp. It was the last run of the game however.
For the game, Sharp was two-for-three with a run and an RBI. Byrd and Usry accounted for the other two hits in the game. Parker and Blankenship each scored runs, and Mozingo and Hernandez collected an RBI each.
On the mound,
Derek Espinoza got the start and pitched 2.1 innings giving up four runs on six hits with two strikeouts. In relief,
Cole Evilsizor hurled two innings giving up a run on two hits.
Aaron Flink worked two-thirds of a frame allowing one hit.
Jacob Bodkin,
AJ Deibel, Byrd and Parker combined for four innings of work. Deibel gave up the solo home run in his one inning of work.
The Pacers return to action on Tuesday when the face Belmont Abbey in an away contest in Belmont, N.C. First pitch will be at 5 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.