Thomas Becomes Winningest Coach in Program History in Win Over Flagler
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – USC Aiken baseball head coach Kenny
Thomas became the all-time leader in total wins in Pacer baseball
history as 10th-ranked USC Aiken bested Peach Belt Conference East
rival Flagler, 7-3, on Saturday afternoon at Flagler Stadium.
The Pacer victory on Saturday improves USC Aiken to 24-12 on the
year. The Pacers are now 12-6 in PBC action in the 2010 season.
Flager with the loss to the Pacers on Saturday falls to 20-15
overall. The Saints are now 8-7 in the PBC.
Thomas now has 393 wins since the 2000 season as the head Pacer
mentor. Thomas, who passed 900 career wins earlier this season, is
393-231 as USC Aiken’s skipper. He is 913-454 in 23 seasons
as a head baseball coach at the collegiate level.
Thomas passed former Pacer head baseball coach and current USC
Aiken athletic director Randy Warrick with his 393rd win. Warrick
(1979-89) concluded his time as USC Aiken’s baseball coach
with a record of 392-146.
In Saturday’s game, the Pacers posted the first three runs of
the game in the top of the third inning. All three runs came with
two outs already on the board for the Pacers. Bill Rice (Sewell,
N.J./Gloucester County College) got things going for the Pacers in
the frame when he singled down the left field line.
Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC Salkehatchie) then doubled to
right centerfield to plate Rice and give the Pacers a 1-0 lead.
Nick Aranas (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) then placed runners on the
corners for the Pacers by singling to left field. Gary Asbill
(Batesburg, S.C./Batesburg-Leesville) kept things rolling next by
singling down the right field line to bring in Howard and place
Aranas at third base. Aranas was then able to score USC
Aiken’s third and final run of the frame next on a throwing
error by Flagler starting pitcher Jonathan Armold.
Flagler would not let the Pacer lead last though as the Saints
procured three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning
to tie the game at 3-3.
The Pacers, who dropped both games of a doubleheader with Flagler
one day earlier, made sure that they would not surrender all three
games in the series in the top of the eighth inning. Alex Franklin
(North Augusta, S.C./North Augusta) was able to kick off the inning
for the Pacers by doubling. He was then moved to third on a bunt
single by Matt Key (New Ellenton, S.C./Silver Bluff). A few batters
later, Rice singled to right field to bring in Franklin for the
go-ahead run and the lead at 4-3.
Key on third a little while later, Howard sacrificed him in for a
5-3 Pacer lead. The Pacers then took advantage of an error by
Flagler rightfielder Jarrod Simmons to score two more runs in the
stanza and hold a 7-3 lead. The four-run advantage would prove to
be all that the Pacers would need.
Rice concluded Saturday’s win going 3-for-5 with two runs
scored and one RBI. He was one of two Pacers with multiple hits in
the game with Key going 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Ollie Bertrand was the only Saint to acquire multiple hits. He was
2-for-3 with a run scored.
USC Aiken doubled up the Saints in total hits at 12-6 in total.
Tyler Stephan (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) collected the win for the
Pacers on the hill. He improved to 4-1 on the year by
dealing 1.1 innings for the Pacers.
Armold suffered the loss for the Saints. He pitched 7.2 innings,
allowing 11 hits and seven runs (four earned).
USC Aiken will next return to Roberto Hernandez Stadium for a
single game with St. Andrews for the second consecutive week. First
pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 7.
The Pacers will then close out their week with a three-game set
against rival Augusta State on Saturday, Apr. 10 and Sunday, Apr.
11 at the ‘Bert. Saturday’s doubleheader will get
underway at 1 p.m. The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. on
Sunday, Apr. 11.
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