AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken posted a 7-1 non-conference victory over Augusta State Wednesday night in the finale of the Outback Cup series at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
With the loss, the Jaguars dropped to 13-33 overall while the 14th-ranked Pacers improved to 30-14.
The Pacers jumped ahead with three runs in the second inning and plated three more in the fourth.
The Jags avoided the shutout with a run in the eighth. Caleb Saggus and Kevin Dodson both walked and Saggus swiped third base for his team-leading 19th steal of the season. Junior first baseman Seth Foster's RBI-groundout to third chased Saggus home with the Jags' only run of the night.
Jeff Rice went 2-for-4 for the Jags and Justin Appel had the squad's only other hit.
Nick Aranas got the run back for the Pacers in the bottom half of the inning with a solo homer to left. Stephen Carmon led USCA with a 3-for-3 effort and Aranas had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Bill Gerstenslager and J.J. Loker each added a pair of safeties.
ASU senior righthander Wilson Taylor (3-3) took the loss, yielding eight hits and six runs in 3.1 innings with a strikeout and two walks. Fellow senior righty Rob Crosby worked the final 4.2 innings, giving up four hits and a run on the solo shot from Aranas while fanning two.
Tyler Stephan (1-0) earned the win for the Pacers, going the first 5.0 innings and allowing all three ASU hits.
The Jags head to Dahlonega, Ga., this weekend to take on North Georgia in a three-game series to wrap up their Peach Belt Conference schedule. ASU and the Saints are slated to meet in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m., with the series finale scheduled for Sunday, April 22 at 1:00 p.m.
