AIKEN, S.C. – No. 2/8 USC Aiken plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to gain a 9-7 win over Shepherd University in the season opener for the Rams at the Prestige Appliance Classic at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
USC Aiken took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Ty Barkdoll hit a solo homer.
The Pacers added a pair of runs in the third behind an RBI-ground out by Moore and an RBI-single by Bosse.
Costen hit a two-run single in the fifth to give the Pacers a 5-0 lead.
Shepherd scored three runs in the top of the sixth.
Sophomore first baseman Austin Guy (Leonardtown, Md./St. Mary's Ryken/Wheeling Jesuit) led off with a solo blast and junior catcher Spencer Wolfe (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown/USC Aiken) added a two-run double to key the rally.
After USC Aiken scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, Shepherd used a four-run rally in the seventh to tie the game.
Senior shortstop T.J Weisenburg (Hedgesville, W.Va./Martinsburg) hit a two-run single and later scored on a wild pitch. Senior outfielder Michael Lott (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) singled and eventually scored when he stole home to tie the game at 7-7.
The Pacers scored twice in the eight to secure the win.
Sean Miller tripled and scored on a RBI single by Moore. Kody Belcher reached base on a hit-by-pitch and scored on an infield error.
Lott and Guy each had a pair of hits to lead the Rams.
Jake Padgett (1-0) picked up the win for the Pacers with Caleb Smith earning his first save of the year. Sophomore reliever Ryan Pansch (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (0-1) took the loss for the Rams.
Shepherd opens the season at 0-1, while USC Aiken improves to 3-1. The Rams return to action Saturday when they take on Mount Olive at 11 a.m. in second day action of the Prestige Appliance Classic.
Box Score
