AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA baseball team lost a 17-8 contest to Lander Friday evening in the first game of the three-game series.

The Pacers are now 15-17 overall, including 6-7 in PBC play.

Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth, head coach Michael Holder's team got things going as Hunter Thompson singled to center field. Two batters later, Donovan Glisson singled to left field. Both runners trotted home when Jack Hobson unleashed a powerful shot over the left field wall for a three-run round-tripper.

Down 8-3 in the fifth, JB Bell ripped a pitch up the middle and moved to third on a Josh Sharp double to right center field. Bell raced home when Capers Molinaroli grounded out, making it 8-4.

Trailing 11-4 in the sixth, Hobson led off the stanza with a solo round-tripper to straight-away center field. After a base hit to right field by Tyler Casciato, Brody Yeomans entered as a pinch hitter and promptly blasted a two-run shot just over the left field wall, bringing the Pacers within four at 11-7.

Lander extended the advantage to 17-7 with a run in the seventh and five in the ninth.

Dalton Graves lifted a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the ninth, plating Sharp, who singled and went to third on a base knock from Capers Molinaroli.

For the game, Hobson crushed two home runs and drove in four runs. Casciato and Sharp had two hits apiece. Yeomans had a two-run home run.

On the mound, Blayne Newman got the start and had three strikeouts in three innings of work. Damien Ashley had a strikeout in 1.2 frames. Jared Huse and Cole Evilsizor each worked two-thirds of an inning. Jacob Butler had two strikeouts in two frames while Jacob Bodkin tossed the ninth and had a strikeout.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Lander in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.