No. 19 Pacers Unable to Ground Swift No. 22 Flying Fleet in Top-25 Showdown
AIKEN, S.C. – A five-run first inning by the 22nd-ranked Flying Fleet proved to be too much for the No. 19 USC Aiken baseball team to overcome in their home contest of a home-and-home series with Erskine at Roberto Hernadez Stadium Friday night. The Fleet secured the first win of the series 7-5 despite being out-hit by the Pacers 11-9.
USC Aiken falls to 30-16 overall on the 2010 campaign heading into the second game of the home-and-home series with Erskine. Erskine improves to 38-14 overall.
The Flying Fleet swiftly opened the game by soaring out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Chas Anthony led the scoring drive with a one-run home run over the left field wall.
Bryan Fogle, the NCAA Division II leader in home runs and RBIs this season, crossed the plate off the bat of Drew Willingham who sent a long hopper over the head of the third baseman before Zach McCarthy cleared the bases with a three-run rip into right field to extend Erskine’s lead to 5-0.
Willingham stepped up again in the top of the third inning sending a solo home run just over the left field wall to put the Flying Fleet up 6-0.
Josh Attaway (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) procured the first run of the game for the Pacers when he dashed across the plate while the pitcher was trying to pick off Stephen Carmon stealing second. The second baseman tried to gun Attaway down at the plate, but the ball got to the catcher just a hair late. Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) was able to advance to second safely on the play.
Carmon scored from second just a few moments later off a single over the second baseman’s head by Nick Aranas (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) to set the score at 6-2 heading into the top of the fourth inning.
Attaway raced across the plate once again in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bill Rice (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County) ripped a ball into right field to bring the Pacers within three.
The Pacers were able to garner another two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull within one of the Fleet. Matt Key (New Ellenton, S.C./Silver Bluff) found his way home from second base off the bat of Rice to lead off the scoring for USC Aiken. Rice then stole second and secured the second run of the inning moments later as he scored off a triple to the right field wall by Aranas.
Willingham, Erskine’s third baseman, secured his second home run of the game and put the game away for the Fleet in the top of the eighth settling the score at 7-5.
Four Pacers secured multiple hits in the contest with two securing multiple RBIs. Rice led all Pacers at the plate going 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs. Aranas and Attaway both went 2-for-4. Aranas had two RBIs in the game while Attaway recorded a team-high two runs.
Willingham led the Fleet at the plate going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
Clayton Knight (Goose Creek, S.C./Limestone) suffered the loss for USC Aiken striking out six Erskine batters in four solid innings of work. He drops to 2-4 on the season.
William Buzhardt secured the win on the mound for Erskine fanning seven batters. He improves to 12-2 in the 2010 campaign while Atlee Pearson earned his 14th save of the 2010 season.
The Pacers and Flying Fleet will face off once more this weekend, this time at Erskine’s home baseball complex in Due West, S.C., on Saturday, Apr. 24. The game is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
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