April 04, 2006

Boxscore

AIKEN, SC—The 13th ranked USC Aiken Pacers (29-10) snapped a three-game skid by downing the visiting St. Andrews Knights (18-22) 6-2 in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. Improving to 5-0 all-time against the Knights, USC Aiken has won 13-straight non-conference contests.  

A three-run first inning put the Pacers on top as they capitalized on five hits and one error highlighted by Chris Sheehan’s RBI double down the left field line plating Robert Davis. Senior Steven Kinney’s sacrifice fly in the frame was his sixth of the year, tying the school record for sac flies in a season.  

Sophomore Michael Eastwood’s (Grantsboro, NC) one-out double to center field in the third set up the Knights first tally as senior Anthony Mehling’s (Pottsville, PA) two-out RBI single to center made it 3-1.   Eastwood was a perfect 4-for-4 on the night with two runs scored while Mehling added a 2-for-4 evening with one of the team’s two RBI.  

Scott Wandless singled through the right side in the fourth to bring around Mike Wadowski and push the advantage back to 4-1.  Wadowski was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, a double, and one run scored.  

Davis tacked on an RBI double in the seventh, plating Zach Cooper to extend the margin to 5-1. Junior Cliff Allred’s (Franklinville, NC) groundout in the eighth pushed across Eastwood to draw within 5-2, but Marc Joehnk’s two-out RBI single to left field in the home half of the eighth set the final margin at 6-2.  

Cooper finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, reaching base in all four plate appearances. Davis was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.  

Pete Pignatiello (2-1), the reigning Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, tossed 7.0 strong innings allowing one earned run on six hits and no walks, fanning seven in the win. Steven Spire and Nick Wandless each tossed 1.0 inning of relief.  

Sophomore B.J. Horne (Hamlet, NC), who holds a 3-2 mark on the mound, suffered the setback for St. Andrews surrendering five runs, three earned, on nine hits and two walks, striking out three in 6.2 innings.  

USC Aiken will host Newberry College on Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 PM.  St. Andrews will travel to face Mount Olive, also on Thursday, at 6:00 PM in a non-conference meeting.

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