Wednesday, March 1, 2006
#14 USC AIKEN HOLDS OFF PRESBYTERIAN FOR 7-3 WIN
AIKEN, S.C.--The 14th ranked USC Aiken Pacers (12-4) got early offensive production in building a 5-0 lead, then held off Presbyterian’s (8-10) eighth inning rally for the 7-3 win in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. Darryl Pui (1) and Chris Sheehan (3) each homered for the Pacers as they win their third-straight. USCA and PC hadn’t met since 2003, but the Pacers snapped a two-game skid against the Blue Hose.
Pui finished with just the one hit, but it was a two-run blast over the left field wall in the third inning to make it 4-0. Sheehan added his solo shot in the eighth. He finished 2-for-4. Ian Kowalchuk went 2-for-3 with a game-high two runs scored while Marc Joehnk tacked on a 2-for-4 evening with two RBI.
Leading 5-0 heading into the eighth inning, the Blue Hose mounded a one-out rally behind five-consecutive hits off reliever Pete Pignatiello. Nick Hoffner’s (Ellicott City, Md.) triple to center field drove in two runs and was the big blow of the inning. Kyle Craven’s (Savannah, Ga.) pinch-hit single to right field drew PC within two at 5-3. Craven, however, was then picked off first base by catcher Robert Davis to end the inning.
Sheehan’s homer and Joehnk’s RBI single up the middle upped the Pacers’ lead once again and set the final score at 7-3.
Hoffner finished 2-for-4 to lead the Blue Hose while Russell Robinson (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) and Cory Lyda (Simpsonville, S.C.) each added two hits and one run scored.
Scott Wandless (2-1) picked up a win in his second-straight outing tossing 6.0 innings of scoreless, four-hit baseball, walking three and striking out four. Nick Wandless (6), older brother to Scott, came on in the eighth to get the final two outs and finished 1.2 innings allowing just one hit, fanning two for the save. He is now just one save shy of tying the Peach Belt Conference’s career saves mark of 22.
Ross Ellis (Kings Mountain, N.C., 1-3) surrendered five runs, three earned, on seven hits and three walks, striking out three in 6.0 innings in the loss for Presbyterian.
USC Aiken will travel to face UNC Pembroke in a three-game conference series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader Saturday, March 4 at 1:00 PM. Presbyterian returns home to Clinton, S.C. to host Lander tomorrow at 2:30 PM.