NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – The USCA baseball team notched a 7-5 victory over Augusta Wednesday evening at SRP Park in a non-conference contest.
The Pacers are now 22-9 on the season while the Jaguars fall to 15-16.
Head coach
Keith Gorman's squad jumped out to a lead in the third inning.
Osmin Melendez led off the inning with a base knock to center field and scored on
Evan Harding's double down the left field line. After
Chancellor Jennings roped a pitch to right field,
Yariel Diaz drove in Harding on a base hit to center field. With the bases loaded,
Salvatore Laimo lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Jennings.
Johann Rodriguez's groundout allowed Diaz to race home, extending the margin to 4-0.
Donovan Glisson led off the fourth with a home run over the left field wall. Melendez walked and hustled to second on a groundout. After walks to Jennings and Diaz,
Blake Martin drew a walk. Laimo's base knock extended the margin to 7-0, scoring Jennings.
AU posted four runs in the fifth, slicing the deficit to three.
In the bottom of the sixth, USCA recorded a strikeout for the second out. An errant pick-off attempt at first allowed a Jaguar student-athlete to race around from first to third. On the ensuing play at home plate, Jennings hit Laimo, who fired the ball to Glisson. He promptly made a terrific tag and picked up the final out of the inning.
For the game, Harding had three hits, including two doubles. He drove in a run and scored once. Melendez notched two hits and scored twice. Jennings singled and crossed home twice. Laimo drove in two while Glisson had a home run.
On the mound,
Brady Dunlop got the start and worked 2.2 innings with two strikeouts.
Luke Norman worked 1.1 frames.
Nick Napolitano had three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work to get the win.
Kyle Stock threw 1.2 innings and had a pair of strikeouts.
CJ Lincoln picked up the save and had two strikeouts.
The Pacers return to action Friday when they host Claflin at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
