AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA baseball team split a doubleheader against No. 8 IUP on Saturday, winning the first game 20-4 before falling 5-2 in the nightcap.

The Pacers are now 6-7 on the season.

Head coach Michael Holder's team got things going in the top of the first in game one. Josh Sharp drew a walk and swiped second base. Capers Molinaroli doubled him home. Two pitches later, Hunter Thompson blasted a two-run shot for a 3-0 advantage.

Trevor Gruszka led off the second with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a base hit by Sharp Molinaroli was hit by a pitch, loading the bags. Thompson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field for a 5-0 margin.  

In the third, Brody Yeomans singled and stole second. After moving to third on a fly ball, Jack Hobson's fielder's choice allowed Yeomans to cross home. A solo blast by Molinaroli in the fourth extended the lead to 7-0.

Up 7-1 in the fifth, Holder's team broke open the game with a 10-run frame. With the bases loaded, Sharp was hit by a pitch. Molinaroli drove in Gruszka on a fielder's choice before Thompson knocked in Cannon Jones and Sharp with a double. After changing pitchers, Tyler Casciato ripped a double to right field, plating Molinaroli and Thompson.

A Hobson double to right field pushed across Casciato for a 14-1 advantage. The visitors changed pitchers, and Gruszka took the second pitch he saw to left field for a double that plated Donovan Glisson and Hobson. Gruszka scored on an error for a 17-1 lead. 

Up 17-4, USCA pushed across a run with a bases loaded walk and on a double play. Gruszka's single up the middle in the eighth pushed Frost across home plate.

For the game, Gruszka led the way with four hits. He drove in three and scored four times. Sharp, Molinaroli and Thompson had two hits apiece. Molinaroli and Thompson hit home runs. Thompson drove in six while Molinaroli drove in four. Casciato also had a pair of RBI. Molinaroli and Sharp each crossed home three times while Thompson and Hobson trotted across twice apiece. 

On the mound, Logan Wise got the start and worked six frames. He had six strikeouts and gave up one run on six hits. Kellen Blankenship tossed the final three innings. He had four strikeouts to pick up the three-inning save. 

IUP broke through the scoreless second game in the fourth inning. The Crimson Hawks posted two runs in the fourth and fifth frames, but Holder's squad got on the board in the bottom of the fifth stanza.

Sharp belted a triple to right center field and raced home when Molinaroli reached on an error. In the sixth, Casciato laid down a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Cannon Frost. Yeomans drew a walk before he and Casciato each moved up 90 feet off steals. A wild pitch allowed Casciato to race home, trimming the deficit to two, 4-2.

IUP added a run in the eighth for a three-run margin. USCA nearly tied it in the eighth, but Glisson's deep fly ball to left center field was caught on the warning track.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kirkland was hit by a pitch. JB Bell entered as a pinch runner and moved to second when Sharp drew a four-pitch walk. However, a double play put a damper on the rally.

For the game, Molinaroli and Sharp had two hits apiece. Sharp had a triple and scored. Casciato also crossed home in the loss.

On the mound, Cade Bouknight got the start and went four innings. He had five strikeouts. Jared Huse tossed 2.2 frames and had four strikeouts. Charles Herring, Jr., accounted for three strikeouts in 1.1 frames while Jacob Bodkin had a strikeout while throwing the ninth inning.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host No. 8 IUP at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.