USC Aiken wins 17th game

Travis Howard's two-run homer over The Haven sign in left field at Roberto Hernandez Stadium gave USC Aiken a 3-2 advantage in Tuesday's battle with Chowan, and three Pacers hurlers took it from there. Gavin Scott, Joe Tart and Christian Stutts combined for five scoreless innings, and USCA - which moved to the No. 10 spot in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II Top 30 Monday - claimed a 6-2 victory and won its 14th game in its last 15 tries.

"It was a tight game," said USCA head coach Kenny Thomas. "But sometimes, when you get in those tight ball games, you have to just persevere and be the one standing at the end."

The Pacers and Hawks alternated runs through the first four innings. Chowan (7-12-1) struck first when first baseman Justin Bagbey doubled home Nate Mitchell for the first run of the game off USCA starter Ryan Milewski, who got the surprise call after some miscommunication among the coaching staff.

USCA (17-7) answered with a run off a Matt Key squeeze bunt that scored Nick Aranas in the bottom of the second, but the vistorsjumped back on top on a Mitchell solo home run that cleared the left field wall.

True to form, the Pacers tied things again in the bottom of the fourth when Key, who had reached base on a single and advanced to third on a JJ Loker single, scored when Chowan shortstop Brandon Mack dropped the throw to second on Loker's attempted steal. The ball rolled into the outfield, allowing Key to cross the plate and tie the game.

After Bill Rice started the fifth with a double to right field, Howard belted an inside pitch off his hands over the wall, displaying his power and giving USCA its first lead of the game.

"Obviously, that was a big hit for us," said Thomas, who admitted he missed the big fly as he was in and out of the dugout battling an illness all night. But his assistant coaches immediately informed the Pacer skipper of the big hit. "They said it was a pretty good shot."

Aranas, who finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, rounded the bases later that inning, scoring on a Will Fulmer single that gave the Pacers a little breathing room.

USCA added an insurance run when Key drove in Aranas on a fielder's choice, but it wasn't needed as the Pacer bullpen continued its dominating form, striking out eight while allowing just three hits and a walk in five frames.

"Those short relievers did a great job," said Thomas. "That's what they do."

Scott (1-0) earned the win after pitching 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out five and walking one. Spencer Fagan (1-1), who gave up all three runs in the fifth, including the Howard jack, took the loss for Chowan.

The two teams will meet again tonight at 6 p.m., as the Pacers look to improve to 11-0 all-time against the Hawks. Jason Cochcroft, who was originally supposed to start Tuesday's game, will take the mound for USCA.

"We've had players sick, and now I'm sick." said Thomas. "It's been kind of rough around here. But we just have to keep battling."

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