AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 22 USCA baseball team scored in six innings and knocked off Columbus State 10-3 Saturday afternoon.
The Pacers are now 16-5 on the season, including 6-2 in PBC play.
Head coach
Keith Gorman's team got on the board in the second stanza.
Salvatore Laimo's single,
Johann Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and
Maverick Grigsby drew a walk to load the bags for
Joshua Johnson. Laimo scored on a double play for a 1-0 edge.
Tied at 1-1 in the third,
Donovan Glisson reached on a fielding error with one away. After a single by
Yariel Diaz, Glisson took to third on a wild pitch and scored on
Blake Martin's sacrifice fly.
The Pacers pushed the score to 3-1 on a solo round-tripper by Rodriguez. Gorman's team extended the advantage with a run-scoring triple by Rodriguez in the fifth. The hit narrowly missed going over the wall as Diaz scored for the three-run cushion.
Up 4-2 in the sixth, Johnson singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Osmin Melendez. Jennings roped a base knock down the right field line, plating Johnson.
The Pacers continued their offensive attack in the seventh. Diaz singled and moved to third on
Blake Martin's long single. With two in scoring position, Laimo belted an offering to left field, driving in Diaz and Martin. Laimo scored on a double play as USCA took an 8-2 lead. Johnson crushed a full count pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run before Melendez followed it up with another round tripper.
For the game, Diaz paced the team with four hits and two runs scored. Johnson tallied three hits, including a home run. He scored twice. Laimo, Martin and Rodriguez had two hits apiece. Laimo and Rodriguez had two RBI each. Laimo also scored twice. Johnson, Melendez and Rodriguez all had home runs.
On the mound,
Ben Shepherd got the start and picked up the win. He worked 6.2 innings with six strikeouts and gave up two runs on five hits.
Brady Dunlop tossed the final 2.1 innings and picked up the save while recording a strikeout.
The Pacers return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.
