AIKEN, S.C. – The USCA baseball team garnered a hard-fought 11-9 victory over Augusta Thursday evening in the first game of the series.

The Pacers are now 28-12 on the season, including 15-7 in PBC play.

Head coach Keith Gorman's squad took an early lead against the Jaguars. Evan Harding singled to right field and moved to second on Chancellor Jennings' base knock to left field. After taking third on a fly ball, Salvatore Laimo's infield hit allowed Harding to race home for a 1-0 lead.

Johann Rodriguez led off the second with a walk. He swiped second and moved to third on a throwing error. Rodriguez trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Donovan Glisson. Osmin Melendez walked and scored on Harding's double. Harding took third on the throw and crossed home on Jennings' sacrifice fly, pushing the margin to 4-0.  

Leading 4-2 in the third, Blake Martin singled and stole second base. Luke Villella entered as a pinch runner and scored on Maverick Grigsby's double to left field. Rodriguez posted a base hit to right field, driving in Grigsby. Up 6-4 an inning later, Harding scored on a sacrifice fly by Martin.

With two outs in the fifth, Melendez was hit by a pitch and went to second on a passed ball. Harding roped a double down the left field line, increasing the advantage to four, 8-4, as Melendez scored.

USCA added to the lead in the sixth as Martin doubled down the left field line. Laimo's bunt single – and ensuing throwing error – allowed Martin to score while Laimo raced into third safely. With two down, Glisson knocked in Laimo, pushing the margin to six, 10-4.

Harding led off the seventh with a base hit up the middle. Jennings recorded an infield single before Yariel Diaz tallied a ground rule double over the center field wall, allowing Harding to score.

For the game, Harding tallied four hits, including two doubles, drove in two and scored four times. He also walked twice. Glisson, Jennings, Laimo and Martin had two hits apiece. Glisson drove in two while Melendez scored twice.

On the mound, Joseph Rauscher went six innings and had six strikeouts in the victory. Myles Chabi worked two innings and had a strikeout. CJ Lincoln registered a strikeout. Brady Dunlop recorded the final two outs to get the save.

The Pacers return to action tomorrow when they host Augusta at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com.