Feb. 10, 2008

Final Stats

AIKEN, S.C.--USC Aiken (4-2) twice rallied from early two-run deficits to take the rubber game of the weekend series with Carson-Newman (6-3) 6-4 in non-conference baseball action on a windy Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. All three games were decided by a total of four runs, as the 30th-ranked Pacers win the series for the second-straight season.

The Eagles plated a pair of unearned markers in the top of the second on a double down the left field line off the bat of Tyler Wynn.

Peden Rucker (1-0) led up three early runs, but all were unearned, scattering five hits and two walks, fanning two in 5.0 innings of work. It was the first win for the former staff ace, who missed the entire 2007 season with a shoulder injury, since May 11, 2005.

The Pacers got on the board in the home half of the second on a two-out, solo homer by David Vitko (1).

After trading runs in the third, Jamie Benjamin (1) smacked his first long ball as a Pacer, another two-out solo shot just inside the left field foul pole, to knot the game at 3-3. Benjamin and Vitko each finished 1-for-3, scoring a run, and combining for three of the team's five RBI.

In the fifth, John Sherrer scored from second with one out on a pinch-hit grounder from Gary Owens that got by the Eagles' first baseman. Later in the inning, Vitko drew a four-pitch, bases loaded walk to make it 5-3.

Owens added an RBI single through the left side to plate Cody McMorris, who stole his way from first to third in two pitches, to extend the advantage to three runs.

Steven Spire came on in relief of Rucker in the sixth inning and tossed 3.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking four and striking out three.

It was his trouble in the ninth that stopped him from a 4.0 inning save. After getting the first two batters, Spire ran out of gas, walking the bases loaded before Terry Oldaker came on in relief. Oldaker (1) walked Derek Long on a three-two count as Carson-Newman pulled within 6-4, but proceeded to induce a ground ball out by Rogers for the save.

McMorris went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases for USC Aiken while Chad Jacobsen continues his torrid start to the season, going 2-for-3 with one walk, one RBI, and a double.

Rogers and Wynn each had two hits for the Eagles.

Jeremy Yoder (0-1) surrendered four runs, three earned, on four hits and one walk in 4.1 innings in the loss.

USC Aiken returns to action next weekend when Lynn University comes to Hernandez Stadium for a three-game series beginning Friday, February 15 at 4:00 PM. Carson-Newman will travel to Anderson, S.C. to face the Trojans on Wednesday, February 13 at 3:00 PM.