Pacers Earn Series Victory With 7-4 Win Over UNCP
AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken’s 20th victory of the 2010 season was an important one as the 10th-ranked Pacers acquired a 7-4 Peach Belt Conference victory over 19th-ranked UNC Pembroke on Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
After splitting with UNC Pembroke on Saturday, the overall series victory leaves the Pacers in sole possession of first place not only in the Peach Belt Conference East, but in all of the PBC through the first four conference series of the 2010 season. USC Aiken is the only PBC team with 10 league wins presently. The Pacers are currently 10-2 in PBC action on the year.
The Pacers are now 20-8 overall on the 2010 season. USC Aiken, which has now won five straight three-game series dating back to Feb. 20, has also now claimed victory in 17 of its last 19 outings.
The 19th-ranked Braves of UNC Pembroke dropped to 19-6 and 7-5 in the PBC with the series concluding loss to the Pacers on Sunday afternoon.
UNC Pembroke posted the first run of the contest in the top of the third inning with two back-to-back two-out doubles. After Alex Pearce doubled to left field to get something going for the Braves in the inning, UNC Pembroke’s Kenny Mickens then doubled to left field to bring in Pearce and net the Braves a 1-0 lead.
The lead would not last long though with USC Aiken acquiring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-1 lead.
The Pacers took advantage of two UNC Pembroke errors in the frame to collect the four runs. Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC Salkehatchie) was the first to arrive on base for the Pacers in the inning. He reached base on an error by the UNC Pembroke third baseman. Nick Aranas (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) then singled to move Howard over to second base.
Gary Asbill (Batesburg, S.C./Batesburg-Leesville) then evened the game for the Pacers at 1-1 by singling through the right side to bring in Howard. UNC Pembroke starting pitcher Tyler Wood then hurt his own cause by not being able to accurately play a Matt Key (New Ellenton, S.C./Silver Bluff) sacrifice bunt attempt to allow Key to move on to second, Asbill to third base and Aranas home for the 2-1 lead. Tripp Warrick (North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) then grounded out to the second baseman to score Asbill and net the Pacers a 3-1 advantage.
One batter later, JJ Loker (Elkton, Va./Spotswood) doubled down the right field line to plate Key for a 4-1 Pacer lead.
USC Aiken would keep pressing in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs. Aranas obtained both of the RBIs in the frame by singling to right centerfield to plate Howard and Bill Rice (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County College).
In the top of the sixth inning, UNC Pembroke would gain two runs back with an Aaron Parnell two-run home run to left field.
The score 6-3 in favor of the Pacers in the bottom of the seventh, Howard procured an insurance run for USC Aiken with a solo shot to left field to commence the frame.
Once again, UNC Pembroke would counter with another home run in the next inning with Seth Kivett belting a solo home run to left centerfield.
The home run would prove not to be enough with Christian Stutts (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken) and Chad Benefield (Dallas, Ga./Southern Union CC) closing the door from there on the UNC Pembroke offense for USC Aiken’s 20th win of the 2010 season.
Benefield pitched a scoreless ninth to commander his fourth save of the year.
USC Aiken starting pitcher Clayton Knight (Goose Creek, S.C./Limestone) pitched well in his 6.2 innings on the hill to improve to 2-3 on the year. Knight fanned three and allowed just six hits.
Wood took the loss on the hill for the Braves. He pitched 4.1 innings, striking out three. He allowed six runs, but none of them were earned.
Loker finished Sunday’s game 3-for-4 from the dish with one RBI. He was one of two Pacers with multiple hits with Aranas going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored.
Jason Coker was the top performer at the plate for the Braves, ending Sunday’s loss to the Pacers 3-for-4 with one run scored.
USC Aiken finished with one more hit (9-8) than the Braves in total in the contest.
The Pacers begin the upcoming week by traveling to Augusta, Ga. to face off against rival Augusta State at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Tuesday, March 23 in the second game of the 2010 Outback Cup. USC Aiken claimed the first game of the 2010 Outback Cup with a 9-3 victory over the Jaguars at the ‘Bert on March 3.
This is the second year of the Outback Cup with USC Aiken claiming the inaugural Outback Cup in 2009 with two victories over Augusta State.
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