YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost both games to defending PBC Champion Young Harris ending their run in the tournament. The Pacers dropped game one 5-4 and game two 12-4 on Sunday afternoon at Zell B. Miller Field.

The Pacers wrap the season with a 32-22 record.

In game one, Head coach Michael Holder's team struck first in the bottom of the fourth starting with a leadoff double down the left field line by Jackson Hannon. A perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by Justin Byrd pushed Hannon to the hot corner. A shallow sacrifice fly right behind second base by Luke Parker scored Hannon. Next up, Joseph Mozingo singled to right and was advanced to second on a base knock by Kaden Usry. Nick Tripp plated Mozingo with a single to center and moved Usry to second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but a fly out ended the inning.

The Mountain Lions evened the scoreboard to 2-2 in the top of the fifth. Great pitching by the Pacers got the team out of a jam and ended the inning with the bases loaded.

USC Aiken retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Parker led off the inning with a double to left center. A ground out by Mozingo pushed Parker to third. Usry drove Parker home with a single up the middle.

Holder's team added their fourth run of the contest in the bottom of the seventh. Jose Hernandez laced a single to center to lead off the inning and found his way to second by way of a passed ball. With two away, Byrd hit his own single to center scoring Hernandez. The Pacers threatened to add more to the board. Parker singled through the right side putting runners on first and second. A fielder's choice putout by the third baseman ended the inning.  

Young Harris took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth with three runs that accounted for the final runs of game one.

For the contest, Hannon tripled, doubled and scored. Parker doubled, singled, scored a run and collected an RBI. Usry singled twice and recorded an RBI. Byrd, Mozingo, Tripp and Hernandez each had a hit. Mozingo and Hernandez each got a run. Byrd and Tripp accounted for the other two RBI.

On the mound, Evan Condon got the start and hurled 4.1 innings giving up two runs on five hits. Cole Evilsizor pitched two innings in relief allowing one hit and struck out two. Jacob Bodkin pitched two-thirds of a frame. AJ Deibel pitched two-thirds of an inning giving up three runs (none earned) on two hits and struck out one. Aaron Flink pitched 1.1 scoreless innings while striking out two.

In game two, USC Aiken again struck first with a solo home run by Tripp to left field in the top of the third inning.

Young Harris quickly answered with two runs in the bottom half of the third to take the 2-1 lead.

Holder's team retook the lead in the top of the fourth. Hannon led the charge with a base knock to left field. He advanced to second on a passed ball. Parker was added as a runner when he was walked. Mozingo drove the pair home with a double down the right field line making the score 3-2.

The Mountain Lions took the lead in the fifth and added to it in the sixth with two and four runs making the score 8-3.

The Pacers added their final run of the game in the seventh on a solo home run to left field by Mozingo.

Young Harris added a run in the home half of the seventh and three more in the eighth putting the game out of USC Aiken's reach.

For the game, Mozingo went three-for-four with a home run, a double, a run and three RBI. Hannon hit a pair of singles and scored a run. Tripp hit a solo homer. Sharp, Byrd and Blankenship each had hits. Parker scored a run.

On the hill, Austin Sandifer got the start and pitched four innings giving up two runs on four hits while striking out two. In relief, Derek Espinoza gave up two runs on two hits. Evilsizor returned to the mound in game two and hurled 1.1 innings giving up three runs on three hits and struck out three. Flink made his second appearance of the day and gave up a run and a hit. Parker finished the game for the Pacers pitching 2.2 frames giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits with two strikeouts.