Aranas Game-Winning Home Run Leads 10th-Ranked Pacers to Split With UNCP
AIKEN, S.C. – In a battle of top 20 Peach Belt Conference
teams, Nick Aranas made sure that 10th-ranked USC Aiken earned a
doubleheader split with 19th-ranked UNC Pembroke with a first game
ninth-inning three-run home run on Saturday afternoon at Roberto
Hernandez Stadium.
Aranas’ three-run tater helped the Pacers garner a 10-7
victory in the first game. UNC Pembroke would garner a 7-1 win over
the Pacers in the second game.
The two top 20 teams will now play the rubber match of the series
at 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 21. The game was moved up an hour from
its originally scheduled time due to the threat of inclement
weather in the CSRA later in the day on Sunday.
The twinbill split leaves the Pacers with an overall record of 19-8
overall (9-2 Peach Belt Conference). The second game loss snapped a
season-best nine-game winning streak for the Pacers, who have
claimed a victory in 16 of their last 18 outings overall.
UNC Pembroke with the doubleheader split on Saturday is now 19-5
overall (7-4 PBC).
In the first game, USC Aiken commenced the top of the ninth inning
clinging to a four-run 7-3 lead. Entering the frame, USC Aiken did
not know it, but an Aranas (Lexington, S.C./Lexington) solo shot in
the eighth to net the Pacers a four-run lead would play huge in the
contest with UNC Pembroke netting four runs in the top of the ninth
to even the game at 7-7 entering the bottom of the ninth.
David Vitko (Columbiana, Ohio/Youngstown State) commenced the
bottom of the ninth inning for the Pacers with a single to let
field. A couple batters later, Travis Howard (Bonneau, S.C./USC
Salkehatchie) hit an infield single that the third baseman was
unable to charge quick enough to leave runners at first and second
for the Pacers.
Aranas, who now has eight home runs on the year, delivered big for
the Pacers next, blasting the three-run jack to right centerfield
to acquire the 10-7 victory for the Pacers.
Aranas’ second home run in as many innings was part of 17
total hits for the Pacers in the first game. UNC Pembroke concluded
its first game loss with 12 hits.
The Pacers had six players conclude the first game with multiple
hits with Aranas and Stephen Carmon (Camden, S.C./Camden) leading
the way with three hits each. Aranas collected a total of four RBIs
in the game to go along with two runs scored. He was 3-for-5 at the
dish in game one.
Carmon was 3-for-5 with two runs scored from his leadoff spot in
the lineup in the first game.
Christian Stutts (Aiken, S.C./South Aiken) obtained his first
victory of the year on the hill in the first game. Stutts only
pitched a third of an inning in the top of the ninth, but with the
bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth, Stutts closed
the door on UNC Pembroke’s aspirations of going ahead by
striking out pinch hitter Matt Ingold. The punchout allowed for
Aranas’ heroics in the bottom portion of the ninth
inning.
Rudy Brown suffered the loss for the Braves with the reliever
allowing Aranas’ game-winning home run in the bottom of the
ninth.
In the second game, UNC Pembroke behind starting pitcher Justin Yow
held off the vaunted Pacer offense, allowing USC Aiken just eight
hits and one run.
Yow improved to 6-0 on the year with his win on the hill in game
two. The left-hander only struck out four in his eight innings on
the mound, but he in turn also allowed just two walks.
USC Aiken starter Thomas McLeod (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) dealt the
first seven innings in his loss. He fanned four. McLeod is now 3-2
on the 2010 season.
Carmon and Aranas once again led the Pacers in game two with both
acquiring two hits in the loss to finish their efforts on Saturday
with five hits each.
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