ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The USCA baseball team posted a pair of victories at Flagler on Saturday by scores of 13-6 and 18-7.
The Pacers are now 13-4 on the year, including 4-1 in PBC play.
Head coach
Keith Gorman's team opened the first game with a run in the top of the first.
Evan Harding recorded a lead-off single to left field and moved to third on a failed pick-off. Two batters later,
Blake Martin's double made it 1-0.
Down 2-1 in the fifth, Harding walked and moved to second on
Chancellor Jennings' base knock through the left side of the infield. Harding took third on a fly ball by
Yariel Diaz before scoring on Martin's groundout.
Donovan Glisson singled home Jennings for a 3-2 advantage.
Johann Rodriguez scored on an error in the sixth. With Harding on third, Jennings allowed him to trot home on a two-run blast over the left field wall for a four-run margin.
Leading 6-4 in the seventh, Jennings' sacrifice fly allowed
Maverick Grigsby to score. Grigsby led off the inning by ripping the first pitch he saw up the middle. Martin singled in Rodriguez. With the bases loaded, Glisson and
Salvatore Laimo drew walks. After another pitching change, Grigsby drew a five-pitch walk for an 11-4 lead.
Up 11-6 in the ninth, Grisgby's single drove in Glisson. Laimo later scored on a double play for a seven-run cushion.
For the game, Martin led the way with four hits, including two doubles. He also drove in three. Jennings and Laimo had three hits apiece. Jennings drove in three and scored twice. Diaz, Grigsby and Rodriguez had two hits each. Grigsby and Glisson each drove in two. Harding scored four times and Rodriguez crossed home twice.
On the mound,
Joseph Rauscher worked six innings for the win with three strikeouts.
CJ Lincoln threw the final three innings and had three strikeouts while snagging the save.
Game two saw Gorman's team jump on top with a five-run first. Jennings and Glisson were each hit by pitches. With one down, Martin drew a walk. Laimo's single drove in two. Grigsby drew a walk before Rodriguez recorded a base hit to left field, driving in Martin.
Cameron Austin Jr., drew a walk, plating Laimo. Two batters later, Jennings reached on an error, allowing Grigsby to race home for a 5-0 lead.
Trailing 6-5 in the third,
Osmin Melendez reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jennings roped a triple to right field, knotting the game at 6-6. Two batters later, Diaz singled in Jennings for a one-run advantage.
USCA added to the lead in the fourth. Grigsby led off the frame with a double and moved to third on Rodriguez's base knock through the left side. Austin Jr., knocked in Grigsby with a base hit to right field. Melendez's bunt single plated Rodriguez. Two batters later, Glisson's sacrifice fly allowed Austin Jr., to race home.
The Pacers tacked on four runs in the fifth for a 14-6 edge. Rodriguez doubled in Martin and Laimo for the first two runs. Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly by Melendez before Jennings doubled in Austin Jr.
Grigsby and Rodriguez each had sacrifice flies in the sixth, extending the margin to 10, 16-6.
Leading 16-7 in the seventh, Diaz belted a two-run shot, plating Jennings, who had reached on an infield single.
For the game, Martin led the way with four hits and three runs scored. Diaz, Jennings and Rodriguez had three hits apiece. Rodriguez drove in four while Diaz and Jennings drove in three and two, respectively. Jennings crossed home three times. Austin Jr., Laimo and Melendez had two RBI apiece. Austin Jr., Diaz, Laimo, Grigsby and Rodriguez each scored twice.
On the mound,
Brady Dunlop got the start and had a strikeout in an inning.
Myles Chabi recorded five strikeouts in six innings of work to get the win.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow for the final game of the series starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
