AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken erased a one-run deficit in the ninth inning by scoring two runs to edge No. 19 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Flagler College to take the first game in a three-game Peach Belt Conference series Saturday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

USC Aiken extended its winning streak to eight games and improved to 32-13 overall and 17-13 in the Peach Belt. Flagler fell to 31-13 overall and 17-10 in conference play.

Tyler Moore led off the bottom of the ninth for the Pacers with a single to left off Flagler reliever Michael Hanke (2-3). He stole second base and then took third when the throw to second got away. Two batters later, Ty Barkell struck out, but the pitch was wild allowing Barkell to reach first and Moore scored to tie the game at 3-all. Zach Moon singled to center and Barkell took second. Barkell advanced to third on another wild pitch and then scored on T.J. Costen's game-ending single down the left field line.

Trailing 1-0 early, the Saints took a 2-1 lead on lead-off solo home runs by Andrew Brodbeck in the fifth and Shawn Hendon in the sixth.

After USC Aiken tied the game on a solo home run by Sean Miller in the eighth, Flagler was able to re-take the lead in the ninth.

Brodbeck greeted Pacer reliever James Lynch (3-1) with a double to right field and the Saints had runners at second and third with one out. Kolin McMillen was intentionally walked to load the bases and Lynch got behind Lorenzo Butler 3-0, but was able to come all the way back for the strikeout. A wild pitch was thrown to the next batter, Nick Kranick, which allowed Igor Baez to score and give Flagler a 3-2 lead. Kranick was then intentionally walked to re-load the bases. Lynch got Frankie Sagarese, a pinch hitter for Hendon, to pop up to shortstop to end the inning.

Lynch got the win by tossing just two-thirds of an inning, walked two, struck out one, allowed one hit and allowed an inherited runner (Baez) to score. Forest Koumas started for USCA Aiken and scattered nine hits and allowed two runs over 6.1 innings pitched.

The 6-7-8 hitters for the Pacers went 7-for-10 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Costen collected three singles, one run scored and drove in a run. Miller went 2-ofr-3 with the home run and two RBI. Randy Luckett collected two singles.

Hanke took the loss in relief for Flagler as he allowed three hits and one earned run in one-third of an inning. The starter, Mike O'Reilly, tossed eight innings, allowed eight hits and two runs to go along with five strikeouts.

Brodbeck led Flagler going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run.

The same two teams meet tomorrow (April 26) in a noon doubleheader to close out the conference slate.