AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team fell to No. 1 Tampa Bay 9-2 Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Pacers are now 3-9 on the season and the Spartans improve to 12-0. 
 
Head coach Michael Holder's team found themselves behind by a run at the end of the first inning. The visiting team added a second run in third inning to increase their lead to 2-0. 
 
USC Aiken sliced the lead to one after Brandon Osypczuk led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. A single by Brock Meyers advanced the runner. Cannon Frost laid down a sacrifice bunt, which put both runners in scoring position. Bradley White II grounded out to second, plating Osypczuk and pushed Meyers to third. A flyout to right center by Josh Sharp ended the inning. 
 
The Spartans added two insurance runs in the sixth with a two-run home run over the right field wall increasing their lead to 4-1. Tampa stretched its lead with another run in the seventh. 
 
The Pacers scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the seventh when White II hit a single to left field. He was advanced on a ground out by Sharp and moved to third on a passed ball. Kaden Usry grounded out to first and earned an RBI when White II crossed home bring the score to 5-2
 
The visitors added a sixth run in the eighth inning and three more in the ninth for the 9-2 final score. 
 
For the game, USC Aiken had two runs on six hits.
 
Meyers had two hits while Osypczuk and White II both scored runs. Usry and White II each had an RBI. 
 
Hunter Steger got the start on the mound and worked six innings while giving up three earned runs and striking out four. Matt Garcia and Lucas Highberger both saw time in relief. Garcia pitched two innings and struck out two. Highberger pitched the final frame. 
 
The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the series finale at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.