Pacers start season with bats blazing

Stephen Bellantoni went 3-for-4 with three runs scored out of the leadoff spot for USCA in the season-opening win over Lincoln Memorial. Staff photo by Cam Huffman.

The struggles of 2011 are officially in the past for the USC Aiken baseball team. The new-look Pacers were everything that had been advertised in a 15-3 victory in the 2012 season opener against Lincoln Memorial University Friday night at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

USCA (1-0) jumped on the Railsplitters with three runs in the opening inning, and it never trailed as 11 players combined for 19 hits.

Derek Beasley started his season strong on the mound. The sophomore picked up the win, allowing only two earned runs in five innings, striking out eight while only walking one. Three of the five hits he allowed never left the infield, as he sent a string of LMU (0-1) players back to the visitors' dugout shaking their heads in frustration.

"He had one tough inning, but he pitched well," said Thomas of the effort. "He handled opening day and attacked the strike zone."

A tight 3-2 game turned into a blowout in the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Pacers posted five runs on six hits. Stephen Bellantoni, who finished with three hits and three runs scored, got the inning started with a bloop single to left, and preseason All-American Stephen Carmon drove him home with a triple. Carmon finished the game with three runs scored and three RBIs.

Bill Gerstenslager followed with his first hit as a Pacer - one of two on the game - to drive in Carmon for the first of his three RBIs. Nick Aranas - who played a solid left field in his outfield debut - picked up a hit to set the stage for Ty Barkell and chase LMU starter Austin Johnson from the mound. Johnson took the loss, after allowing five earned runs on eight hits in 41âÑ3 innings.

Barkell greeted reliever Brandon Cowan with a double down the left field line to score three more USCA runs.

The freshman had a huge game with two hits and a run scored.

"The older guys that have been here all really came to play." said Thomas. "When they do that, everybody else gets on board. That's what happened (Friday).

Ahead 8-2 after the eighth, the USCA bullpen took it from there. Ryan Milewski gave up an earned run in two innings, and Sam Daniel and Trey Preston shut the door with scoreless frames.

"Milewski was pretty good," said Thomas. "I've seen him better, but he did a good job. This was Daniel's first chance to pitch. He was hurt all year last year. Preston came in at the end and was pretty dominating. That was really good to see."

The offensive output didn't slow down after the big inning as USCA scored seven more the rest of the way. In total, six different Pacers collected multi-hit games, including Branden Milhouse, who came off the bench for two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

"For once, everything I had on paper went as planned," said Thomas. "We played defense, we ran the bases and we swung the bat pretty good, too. When you do that, it usually ends with a victory."

Cody Baker led the Railsplitters at the plate with two hits and a run scored. Gelson Perez was the only other LMU player to collect two hits, and he drove in one of the three Railsplitter runs.

The two teams will be back on the field today at 1 p.m., for the second game of the series, which will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.

Junior college transfer Wyatt Brown, a right-hander, will start today, but Thomas expects to use a number of arms out of the bullpen.

"We've got a lot of guys, and we're going to use them," he said, indicating he could also mix up the starting lineup a little. "We're a really deep team, and we can do a lot of things."

LMU 000 200 100 - 3 9 1

USCA 300 052 23X - 15 19 0

WP: Derek Beasley (1-0)

LP: Austin Johnson (0-1)

Cam Huffman is the sports editor of the Aiken Standard and is glad baseball season has arrived, especially if the weather holds form.