AIKEN, S.C. – Augusta State University fell to the No. 24 USC Aiken Pacers 21-9 on Friday night in game one of the three-game Peach Belt Conference series at Hernandez Stadium in Aiken, S.C.

The two teams combined for 27 hits.

With the win, The Pacers improved to 27-14 overall and 11-8 in the Peach Belt Conference, while the loss dropped Augusta State to 20-22 on the season and 8-8 in the league.

Freshman Wilson Taylor (2-3) was tagged with the loss and lasted 4.2 innings. Taylor allowed eight earned runs on seven hits and booked three strikeouts. Sophomore Scott Strickland relieved Taylor in the fifth and gave up five runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore Robbie Downing came in for relief and gave up two hits. Junior Carl Burrow finished the game and allowed three hits.

Senior Jorge Virguez paced The Jags offensively with a 3-for-5 evening and drove in an RBI. Junior Shannon Wilkerson was 2-for-5 with three RBI and knocked out his 18th homer of the season. Senior Tim Rawlings had two hits on the night with two RBI and a homer. Sophomores Alex Walker and Alex Sickman each had a safety on the day with one run batted in.

The Jaguars are back in action on tomorrow when The Jags and Pacers square off in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Hernandez Stadium in Aiken, S.C. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.