PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a pair of games Friday at No. 11 West Florida by scores of 11-4 and 8-5.

The Pacers are now 0-5 on the season while UWF stands at 4-1.

Down 2-0 in the fifth inning of game one, head coach Michael Holder's team cut into the deficit. With one away, Bradley White II drew a walk and moved to second on an error. After hustling to third on a wild pitch, another wild pitch on ball four to Justin Byrd allowed him to race home to make it a one-run contest. 

The Argonauts responded with six unanswered runs before USC Aiken broke through in the top of the seventh. Capers Molinaroli doubled to the gap in left center field with two away. He was able to race home when Dalton Graves belted an offering to right field for extra bases, cutting the deficit to 8-2.

The home team responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to make it 11-2. In the ninth inning, JB Bell led off the inning with a single. He moved to second on a passed ball and Byrd drew a walk. A Josh Sharp single loaded the bags. A two-out walk to Graves drove in a run. A wild pitch allowed Byrd to cross home for the 11-4 final score.

For the game, Bell led the way with a pair of hits. Byrd, Graves, Molinaroli, Sharp and Kaden Usry all had hits. Graves and Molinaroli each had doubles. Graves drove in two while Byrd drove in one. Bell, Byrd, Molinaroli and White II crossed home.

On the mound, Jacob Fletcher worked 4.1 innings and had five strikeouts. Caden Purvis worked 2.0 innings and had a strikeout. Cade Bouknight, Jacob Bodkin and Lucas Highberger all saw time on the mound in the game.

Down 1-0 in the top of the second of game two, Molinaroli led off the frame with a base knock up the middle. With two away, Doom Dennis singled, pushing Molinaroli to second base. Bell's base hit on the ensuing pitch knotted the score at 1-1.

Trailing 5-1 in the top of the fifth, Holder's team went to work on cutting the deficit. With one out, Cannon Frost blasted a full-count pitch to left center field for a double. Sharp drew a four-pitch walk, forcing a pitching change. Byrd walked to load the bases for Graves, who promptly reached on a fielding error, which allowed to Pacers to race home.

Down 8-3 in the seventh, Graves recorded a one-out single to center field. Molinaroli singled and each runner moved up 90 feet on an error. Usry brought both student-athletes home on a double to right field, pulling the team within three at 8-5. However, that was as close as the team could get in the seven-inning contest.

For the game, Molinaroli led the way with three hits. Bell and Usry had two hits apiece. Usry drove in two while Molinaroli scored twice.

On the mound, Hunter Steger got the start and struck out five. Matt Garcia had one strikeout while Luke Parker registered two. Blayne Newman saw time on the bump while Jaylen Merchant tallied a strikeout.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they play UWF in the final game of the series starting at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
 

– The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team lost a pair of games Friday at No. 11 West Florida by scores of 11-4 and 8-5.

The Pacers are now 0-5 on the season while UWF stands at 4-1.

Down 2-0 in the fifth inning of game one, head coach Michael Holder's team cut into the deficit. With one away, Bradley White II drew a walk and moved to second on an error. After hustling to third on a wild pitch, another wild pitch on ball four to Justin Byrd allowed him to race home to make it a one-run contest. 

The Argonauts responded with six unanswered runs before USC Aiken broke through in the top of the seventh. Capers Molinaroli doubled to the gap in left center field with two away. He was able to race home when Dalton Graves belted an offering to right field for extra bases, cutting the deficit to 8-2.

The home team responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to make it 11-2. In the ninth inning, JB Bell led off the inning with a single. He moved to second on a passed ball and Byrd drew a walk. A Josh Sharp single loaded the bags. A two-out walk to Graves drove in a run. A wild pitch allowed Byrd to cross home for the 11-4 final score.

For the game,Bell led the way with a pair of hits. Byrd, Graves, Molinaroli, Sharp and Kaden Usry all had hits. Graves and Molinaroli each had doubles. Graves drove in two while Byrd drove in one. Bell, Byrd, Molinaroli and White II crossed home.

On the mound, Jacob Fletcher worked 4.1 innings and had five strikeouts. Caden Purvis worked 2.0 innings and had a strikeout. Cade Bouknight, Jacob Bodkin and Lucas all saw time on the mound in the game.

Down 1-0 in the top of the second of game two, Molinaroli led off the frame with a base knock up the middle. With two away, Doom Dennis singled, pushing Molinaroli to second base. Bell's base hit on the ensuing pitch knotted the score at 1-1.

Trailing 5-1 in the top of the fifth, Holder's team went to work on cutting the deficit. With one out, Cannon Frost blasted a full-count pitch to left center field for a double. Sharp drew a four-pitch walk, forcing a pitching change. Byrd walked to load the bases for Graves, who promptly reached on a fielding error, which allowed to Pacers to race home.

Down 8-3 in the seventh, Graves recorded a one-out single to center field. Molinaroli singled and each runner moved up 90 feet on an error. Kaden Usry brought both student-athletes home on a double to right field, pulling the team within three at 8-5. However, that was as close as the team could get in the seven-inning contest.

For the game, Molinaroli led the way with three hits. Bell and Usry had two hits apiece. Usry drove in two while Molinaroli scored twice.

On the mound, Hunter Steger got the start and struck out five. Matt Garcia had one strikeout while Luke Parker registered two. Blayne Newman saw time on the bump while Jaylen Merchant tallied a strikeout.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they play UWF in the final game of the series starting at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.