AIKEN, SC – The University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team split a doubleheader with North Georgia on Saturday. 

Game scores were 14-12 in favor of the Pacers in the opener and 6-5 in favor of the Nighthawks in the nightcap. 

The Pacers are now 12-34 on the season, including 8-16 in the PBC.

In game one, head coach Michael Holder's team took the lead in an unorthodox way. Three straight errors from the Nighthawks sent Brock Myers across home plate. The first hit of the game came from Brandon Osypczuk, sending Josh Sharp home. Luke Parker recorded another single, sending Capers Molinaroli across the plate. The Pacers found themselves up 3-0 heading into the second inning.

The bases were loaded before the Pacers got a hit in the second inning after two walks and a hit by pitch. After Jack Hobson rocketed a pitch that was just short of leaving the park, Cade Bouknight crossed home plate and gave the Pacers a 4-2 lead heading into the third.

Parker began the third frame with a lead-off single. Dalton Graves smacked a single into left field. Parker was called out after a bunt that led to a fielder's choice, but Myers hit another single that sent Graves home. Molinaroli hit yet another RBI single for the Pacers, driving in Bouknight. The Pacers lead was 6-2 heading into the fourth.

Kaden Usry and Osypczuk each hit a single to begin the bottom of the sixth, and Parker bunted to reach first and load the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly from Graves advanced all three runners, sending Usry home and tying the game. A single from Bouknight sent Osypczuk home and gave the Pacers the lead once again. Myers sent Parker home on a fielder's choice, and Sharp sent Myers across the plate on another RBI single for the Pacers. Holder's team held a 10-7 lead heading into the seventh inning.

Graves and Bouknight began the eighth inning with a pair of singles, and Myers was walked to load the bases for the Pacers. Sharp hit a missile that bounced off the right field wall and sent two runners home to tie the game at 12 on a double. Hobson was walked to load the bases once again. Osypczuk's hit plated Sharp and Myers. The Pacers led 14-12 heading into the final inning, where they would hold on to win the game.

Hunter Steger got the start on the mound in game one. He pitched 4.0 innings, striking out seven batters and giving up two runs that were both earned. Kevin Cox pitched 2.0 innings, striking out one batter. Cox gave up four runs, but only one was earned. Jared Huse pitched 2.0 innings, striking out two batters and giving up three runs that were all earned. Huse also picked up the win. Louie Smith faced one batter and struck him out. AJ Deibel struck out the final two batters of the game, and earned a save.

Osypczuk and Parker each tallied three hits. Sharp, Molinaroli, Graves, and Bouknight each recorded two hits. Myers, Hobson, and Usry each added a hit.

In the nightcap, Joseph Mozingo ripped a one-out single to center field and moved to second when Graves was issued a walk in the second inning. Bouknight singled to left field, knocking in Mozingo. A Doom Dennis grounder allowed Graves to score for a 2-0 advantage. 

The Nighthawks broke through with four runs in the fifth inning and added a run in the sixth for a 5-2 lead.

Sharp singled to third base to lead off the sixth. With one away, Usry singled to the gap in left center field, pushing Sharp to third. Mozingo belted a single to right field, driving in Sharp.

USC Aiken made it a one-run game in the seventh. Bouknight started things off with a single through the left side of the defense and moved to second on a base hit by Dennis. A sacrifice bunt from Cannon Frost pushed each runner up. Myers garnered a single to right field, plating Bouknight for a 5-4 score.

The Nighthawks added a run in the eighth for a two-run advantage. However, Holder's team scored in the bottom of the frame. With two down, Graves walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Bouknight hit a shot to first base and reached on an error, allowing Graves to score.

Trailing 6-5 in the ninth, Sharp recorded a two-out single to shallow right field. Hobson was hit by the first pitch he saw, putting two on base. However, a fielder's choice ended the game.

For the contest, Bouknight, Mozingo and Sharp had two hits apiece. Graves scored twice.

On the mound, Matt Garcia tallied three strikeouts in 4.2 innings while Jaylen Merchant posted two strikeouts in 1.1 frames. Blayne Newman worked an inning and notched a strikeout while Jacob Butler posted four strikeouts in two scoreless frames.
 

The Pacers will stay home to take on Coker Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available on PacerSports.com.