AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost an 11-9 contest to American International Friday evening.

The Pacers are now 0-7 on the year while the Yellow Jackets are now 1-0.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning, head coach Michael Holder's team knotted the contest. JB Bell started the frame off with a first-pitch single through the right side of the infield. Two batters later, Justin Byrd's base knock pushed him to third. Josh Sharp's sacrifice fly to right field allowed Bell to race home, tying the game.

With the score still at 1-1 in the fourth, USC Aiken broke the tie. Dalton Graves drew a full-count walk and went to second on a four-pitch walk to Kaden Usry. Jack Hobson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two batters later, Bell blooped a single down the left field line on the first pitch he saw, allowing Usry and Hobson to come around and score for a two-run margin.

The Yellow Jackets countered in the fifth, plating two runs to make it a 3-3 game. USC Aiken gained the lead for good in the bottom of the stanza. Capers Molinaroli doubled with one out and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a throwing error to first base that allowed Usry to reach safely.

Two innings later, the Pacers broke the game wide open. Molinaroli was the catalyst with his single to the gap in right center field. Graves followed him up with a base knock to left and a walk to Usry loaded the bags while forcing a pitching change. Luke Parker belted a double to right field, plating Molinaroli and Graves. A balk allowed Usry to score to make it 7-3. Cade Bouknight roped a double down the right field line and moved to third on a fielding error while Parker scored on the play. Two batters later, Brock Myers recorded a single, plating Bouknight for the 9-3 advantage.

The Yellow Jackets cut the margin to four with two runs in the eighth frame to make it 9-5. The visitors plated six runs in the ninth for an 11-9 edge.

Myers tallied a one-out single to left field in the bottom of the ninth. With two away, Sharp put down a sensational bunt to put two runners on. A walk to Molinaroli loaded the bases but the Pacers were unable to push across the tying run.

For the game, Sharp led the way with three while Bell, Byrd and Molinaroli had two hits apiece. Bouknight, Molinaroli, Parker and Sharp garnered doubles while Bell and Parker each drove in two. Molinaroli and Usry each crossed home.

On the mound, Jacob Fletcher registered nine strikeouts in six innings but did not get a decision. He gave up one earned run on four hits. Connor Sampers tossed two frames and had three strikeouts while Blayne Newman and Jaylen Merchant worked the ninth inning.

The Pacers return to action for a doubleheader tomorrow against American International starting at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.