AIKEN, S.C. – Augusta State fell twice to USC Aiken 7-to-7 and 6-to-4 in Roberto Hernandez Stadium Saturday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader.
ASU (10-28, 3-18 PBC) struck first with two runs when Jeff Rice started with a single and Justin Mee RBI-singled before Seth Foster's run-scoring fielder's choice made it a 2-0 game. USCA (30-8, 16-5) tied it in the bottom of the second off three hits and an ASU error. The Pacers scored two more in the fifth and three in the sixth. ASU's one run in the seventh, scoring on an error, wasn't enough as the Jags fell 7-to-3.
ASU senior Josh Barks (0-3) pitched 5.0 innings, giving up 10 hits for six runs (four earned), before freshman Phil Dukes and sophomore Jaime Suggs relieved. Dukes pitched 0.2 innings, giving up one hit, while Suggs threw 2.1, surrendering two hits and one run.
Wyatt Brown (5-2) got the USCA win in 6.0 innings of relief, allowing seven hits for two runs and striking out four. Josh Miller went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI and Bryce Baur was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Mee and Hunter Boose each went 2-for-4 in game one, with Mee earning a run and RBI.
Aiken put up five in the fourth inning of game one, but ASU scratched back with three unanswered runs. Mee drew a bases loaded walk to score one in the seventh and in the eighth Ross Miles singled to score Clay Tucker and Boose's double plated Miles for a 5-4 game. The Pacers scored another to insure a 6-4 victory off 13 hits.
Dylan Wall pitched 3.2 innings in the start, allowing seven runs on five hits (two homers) and striking out one. Clint Echols relieved in 3.1 innings and David Bermudez threw 1.0. Danny Wissmann (2-0) earned the win in 5.0 innings, giving up three hits for one run and striking out three.
Boose went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI and Kevin Dodson was 3-for-5 with one RBI.
ASU hosts Erskine in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 9 at 1:00 p.m.