Pacers Downgrade Hurricanes to Depression in Series-Clinching Victory
AIKEN, S.C. - The No. 21 USC Aiken baseball team downgraded the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes to a tropical storm in their series-clinching 10-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
Georgia Southwestern claimed the first win in the series on Friday, but USC Aiken outscored the Hurricanes 24-9 in the final two games of the series to acquire its first series win of the 2010 season. The loss on Sunday dropped the Hurricanes to 3-3, while the Pacers improved to 5-6 on the 2010 campaign.
Georgia Southwestern opened the game strong with a two-run home run over the left field wall by Zach Stanton. Center fielder Chris Lingham scored after reaching on a fielder's choice.
The Pacer infield was then able to get out of jams three straight innings to keep it at just two runs. Starting in the top of the third inning, Jason Cochcroft (Gilbert, S.C./Gilbert) struck out two and catcher Gary Asbill (Batesburg, S.C./Batesburg-Leesville) caught a pop-up foul ball.
In the fourth inning, Lingham grounded out on a double play to shortstop Stephen Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) who tossed the ball to second baseman Matt Key (Silver Bluff, S.C./Silver Bluff) who turned then to first baseman Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC Salkehatchie).
Then in the top of the fifth inning, Heath Lock laid down the sacrifice bunt to advance Trent Dooley and Stanton to second and third, respectively. Paschel Poston then loaded the bases when he was intentionally walked by senior hurler Steve Owens (Sykseville, Md./University of Richmond) just before Howard and centerfielder Bill Rice (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County) closed out the inning by corralling two fly balls.
Then in the bottom of the fifth the Pacers got hot ending Tyler Daniel's no hitter when Carmon hit a three-run home run to score Asbill and Noah Wethington (Rock Island, Ill./Blackhawk College). Just two batters later, Rice continued his great weekend by hitting a two-run jack just inside the right field foul line scoring Key to put the Pacers up 5-2.
The bats remained hot for the Pacers in the sixth inning when Jowan Gray (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken) added a deep home run jack of his own over the left field wall in the top of the sixth to put the Pacers up 6-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Key clobbered a ball to the warning track to pick up a triple and put himself in scoring position for Rice who sent another ball up the right foul line for a double to score Key. Howard then scored Rice on a single up the middle putting the score at 8-2 and bringing about another pitching change for Georgia Southwestern.
Wethington added to the Pacers' home run tally in the bottom of the eighth, ripping one over the left center wall to bring Asbill across the dish, putting the Pacers out of reach of the Hurricanes at 10-2.
Rice ended his outstanding weekend series by leading the Pacers at the plate on Sunday. Rice went 3-for-5 with two runs, three RBIs and one home run. Carmon and Asbill both went 2-for-3 from the plate with Carmon adding 3 RBIs.
The Hurricanes were led on offense by Dooley who went 3-for-4 from the plate. Georgia Southwestern stranded 13 runners on base while USC Aiken left just six.
Daniel took the loss for the Hurricanes. He gave up just three hits, two home runs and struck out just one batter.
Right-handed hurler Owens secured the win for the Pacers on the mound. He improves to 2-1 on the season giving up just three hits and no runs.
USC Aiken will next travel to Montevallo, Ala. to open conference play by taking on PBC newcomer Montevallo. The Pacers and Falcons will open the series with a twinbill on a Saturday, Feb. 27 with the first pitch of the first game set for 2 p.m. EST. They will then close out with a 2 p.m. EST game on Sunday, Feb. 28.
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