Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken (4-1) used an 11-hit effort to record an 8-1 win over Shepherd University (0-5) in baseball action at USC Aiken on Friday.

The Pacers took a 5-0 lead in the second inning on four hits and an error.Blake Bottomley hit a solo blast to highlight the scoring. Conner Durden added an RBI-double, Joey Smithers had an RBI-single, and Philip Watcher drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for the Pacers.

USC Aiken added a pair of runs in the sixth on RBI-singles by Bottomley and Smithers.

Durden hit a solo blast in the seventh to increase the lead to 8-0.

Shepherd scored a run in the eighth. Junior first baseman Justin Smith (Hagerstown,Md../Smithsburg/Hagerstown CC) reached on a walk and later scored on a series of three wild pitches.

Sophomore outfielder Brenton Doyle (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run), senior third baseman Dalton Haymaker (New Oxford, Pa./Delone Catholic/Frederick CC),sophomore second baseman Eric Sloper (Catlett, Va./Patriot), and Smith each had hits for the Rams.

Durden went 3-for-4 with a homer and a pair of doubles to lead USC Aiken.

Sophomore starter Wes Martin (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill/UMES) (0-2) (6.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 Ks, 4 BB) took the loss for the Rams. Zach Rafuse (1-0) (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 Ks, 1 BB) gained the win for the Pacers.

The two teams complete a three-game set on Saturday with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.