Box Score AIKEN, S.C. – Fifth-ranked USC Aiken (6-0) posted an 8-3 win over Shepherd University (1-4) in baseball action at USC-Aiken on Saturday.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior outfielder JJ Sarty (Purcellville, Va./Woodgrove/William& Mary) singled , stole second and third, and scored on a ground out by senior outfielder Ron Farley (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall/Delaware Tech).

The Rams extended their lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third as senior second baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) singled and scored on a two-run blast by Sarty.

USC-Aiken cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single by Zach Moon.

The Pacers got on a solo blast by Tyler Ammerman and Jose Bonilla added an RBI-double in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.

USC-Aiken took the lead in the sixth with a pair of runs as Daulton Weeks led off with a single and scored on by Skylar Mercado. down the right field line. Mercado later scored on a double by Mitchell Price.

The Pacers added three runs in the eighth to seal the win.

Senior catcher Tyler Thomas (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) went 3-for-4, while Sarty and Farley each added a pair of hits to lead the Rams.

Bonilla, Conner Durden, Brian Parreira, and Price each had a pair of hits to lead the Pacers.

Senior reliever Brandon Hovel (Aberdeen, Md./Kenwood) (0-1) (1.0 IP, 0 K, 0 BB, 3 H, 2 ER) took the loss for the Rams. Joseph Benitez (1-0) (6.1 IP, 6 K, 3 BB, 9 H, 3 ER) gained the win for the Pacers.

The two teams return to action for their final game in a three-game set on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest.