The USC Aiken baseball team played a doubleheader against USC Beaufort on Saturday, winning 13-10, but falling 5-1 in the nightcap.
The Pacers are currently 13-36 on the season, including 9-17 in the Peach Belt Conference.
Leading 3-0 in the third inning, Doom Dennis drew a two-out walk to tie the game. After advancing to second base on Brock Myers' base knock to left field, Josh Sharp took the first pitch he saw to center field, cutting the lead to 3-1 and just two points.
Head coach Michael Holder's team took control of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jack Hobson walked and scored on Caden Usry's triple into the gap in left-center field. Joseph Mozingo homered Usuri with a single to settle the game at 3-3. Mozingo stole second and advanced on a wild pitch before crossing the plate with Luke Parker's double to left-center field.
Parker dove to third base on a passed ball and scored on Cade Bouknight's base hit to right field. After Dennis' sacrifice bunt, Myers' single advanced Bouknight to third base. A sharp sacrifice fly widened the lead to 3 points, 6-3.
USCB got one run back in the top of the fifth inning to make it 6-4, but the Pacers got one back in the bottom of the stanza. Ussuri invited a walk and grounded out to second base. Parker's single to center field gave Ussuri a 7-4 lead.
With the bases loaded, Sharp hit a double down the right field line, sweeping it out and taking a 10-4 lead. During the play, Parker, Dennis, and Myers all rushed home for the Pacers.
The Sandsharks scored in the sixth inning to get within five points at 10-5. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Myers was hit by a pitch. After moving up to third base, he scored on Sharpe's base knock to right field. Capers Molinaroli singled to left field, putting two runs on base. Both runners advanced on passed balls, and Sharp scored on Hobson's infield hit. Even the pitching changes didn't slow the Pacers, and Molinaroli scored on Ussuri's error with the second out of the inning. Molinaroli's run made it 13-5.
USCA won 13-10.
Sharp led the game with 3 hits and 6 RBIs. Bouknight, Hobson, Myers and Parker each had two hits. Parker and Ussuri each had two RBIs, and Dennis, Myers, Parker, and Ussuri all scored two runs.
On the mound, Jacob Fletcher pitched 5.1 innings and contributed to the win with four strikeouts. Jared Hughes pitched 3.1 frames with a strikeout, and Cole Evil Scissor was brought in at the end for his second save of the year.
In the second game, the visiting team scored one point in the first, two points in the second, and two points in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dennis was hit by a pitch, but Myers made a fielder's choice to erase it. Sharpe continued his great day with a base knock into the right field seats, pushing Myers to third base. Molinaroli's groundout allowed Myers to score, bringing his team within four points at 5-1.
USCA loaded the bases in the seventh inning and threatened two runs in the eighth, but the team was unable to get past the score in either frame.
Molinaroli, Mozingo, and Sharp each had two hits in this game. Molinaroli scored the team's only run, and Myers crossed home.
Hunter Steger started on the mound and pitched 3.2 innings. He had four strikeouts. Kevin Cox pitched the final 5.1 innings, had nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits.
Tomorrow, both teams will battle it out for the final regular season game beginning at 1 p.m., with the winner advancing to the PBC Tournament.
