Tuesday, April 10, 2001

BLUE HOSE WIN THRILLER OVER #30 USC AIKEN 14-13
PC Extends winning-streak to five games

AIKEN, SC--The #30 USC Aiken Pacers (25-17) appeared on track to pull off yet another improbable come-from-behind win, but the Pacers dropped a 14-13 thriller to Presbyterian College (25-22) in non-conference baseball action Tuesday night at J.H. Satcher Field.  

The loss snaps the Pacers school record 10-game home winning streak as well as they six-game overall winning streak and their mark of five consecutive comeback wins.

Trailing 9-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pacers plated six runs to tie the ballgame at 9-9.  The big blow came off the bat of Troy Armstrong (3) as he crushed a grand slam over the left field fence making it 9-7.  Armstrong finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and the four RBI.

In a game that lasted 4:21, one of the longest non-rain delayed, regulation games ever seen at Satcher Field, the Blue Hose responded after blowing their late six-run lead.  PC posted five runs on five hits in the top of the eighth including three earned runs off Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, Andy Mitchell, to retake the lead at 14-9.  The two teams combined to use 13 pitchers, seven for USCA and six for PC.

Down 14-9 heading into the bottom of the ninth, it appeared the Pacers would yet again make a charge.  Andres Verde led off with a bloop single to left field.

Nate Grant drew a walk and Sam Garau laid down a bunt for an infield hit to load the bases with no one out.  Verde and Grant scored on back-to-back wild pitches by Davis Rice.  Clint Keown grounded out to second base for the first out of the inning, but Garau scored on the play to cut the advantage to two at 14-12.  Butch Martin reached on an error by Brad Hurst at second base to bring the tying run to the plate in Rocky Curnayn.  He struck out swinging for out number two.  David Gillespie drew a walk as did Tavis Cummings to load the bases with two outs for Armstrong.  A passed ball scored Martin to make 14-13.  An intentional walk to Armstrong again loaded the bases and brought up Verde.  On a 1-1 pitch, Verde popped up to Tombo Hite at shortstop to end the game.

Garau and Martin both recorded four-hit performances while combining for four runs scored and four RBI.  Keown was 2-for-6 with two RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases. David Caison (1-2) worked 0.2 of an inning in relief allowing one earned run on one walk but picked up the loss.  Cory Jackson started the game going 5.0 innings surrendering five runs, two earned, on 11 hits and no walks in the no-decision.

Michael Burns (6-5) worked 1.1 innings of relief allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three in notching the blown save, but receiving the win.

Box Score

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