Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken (4-0) recorded a 9-4 win over Shepherd University (1-3) in baseball action at USC-Aiken on Friday.

The Pacers took a 5-0 lead in the first inning as Mitchell Price and Zach Moon each had RBI-doubles to key the rally.

Shepherd cut the lead to 5-1 with a run in the fourth as senior first baseman Mike Brown (Brandywine, Md./St. Mary's Ryken/Delaware Tech) reached base on a hit-by-pitch and later scored on a wild pitch.

USC-Aiken answered back with a three-run homer by Moon in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-1 advantage.

The Rams added a run in the fifth as senior second baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) led off with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brown.

The Pacers added a run in the sixth as Price tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian Parreira.

Shepherd responded with a run in the seventh when senior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William& Mary) doubled and later scored on a single off the bat of senior outfielder Ron Farley (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall/Delaware Tech).

The Rams tacked on a run in the ninth as senior infielder Tyler Piccolo (Sound Beach, N.Y./Rocky Point/Dowling) singled and was later plated on a double by Sarty.

Sarty went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles to lead the Rams.

Price went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Moon added a 2-for-4 effort with four RBI to lead the Pacers.

Sophomore pitcher A.J. Stead (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) (0-1) (4.0 IP, 3 K, 5 BB, 6 H, 8 ER) took the loss for the Rams. Reliever William Ard (1-0) (1.2 IP, 2 K, 0 BB, 0 H, 0 R) gained the win for the Braves.

The two teams return to action for their second game in a three-game set on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.