AIKEN, S.C. – No. 19 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Flagler College won the second game of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader, 11-8, at the University of South Carolina Aiken Sunday afternoon at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The Pacers rallied to win the first game, 9-8.

Flagler ends the regular season with a 32-14 overall record and an 18-11 mark in the Peach Belt. The 18 PBC wins are the most the Saints have recorded since moving into the league in 2010. USC Aiken is now 33-14 overall and 18-12 in conference play. Flagler has unofficially secured the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. As of now, USC Aiken would be the No. 5 seed, but there are still games to be played that have a bearing on that seed.

In the opener, Flagler broke open a 3-all tie with a five-run fifth inning. But USC Aiken chipped away and got three in the sixth, one in the eighth and plated two in the ninth for its second consecutive walk-off win.

Michael Hanke (2-4) got the loss in relief for the second game in a row as he came on to relieve Danny Brown in the ninth. Kody Belcher greeted Hanke with a lead-off infield single. Tyler Moore was intending to sacrifice Belcher to second base, but Belcher was able to beat the throw to second and Moore reach first. Chaz Pal's attempt at a sacrifice bunt backfired as Hanke was able to force out Belcher at third. A double steal put runners at second and third and Hanke intentionally walked Ty Barkell to load the bases. Zach Moon hit a fly ball deep enough to center to score Moore from third to tie the game 8-all, and the other baserunners moved up one base. T.J. Costen, who had the walk-off RBI single yesterday, did the same thing today as he laced a 2-2 pitch to center field to score the winning run.

Nick Kranick belted a three-run home run to key Flagler's five-run fifth. Kolin McMillen hit an RBI double and Skylar Fox hit a run-scoring single in the same frame.

Cole Lee (3-2) picked up the win in relief for the Pacers. He tossed a scoreless inning and two-thirds, did not allow a hit, walked three and struck out one. Ben Black started and lasted 4.1 innings. He surrendered nine hits, seven earned runs, walked one and fanned five.

Costen went 5-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two runs batted in. Barkell went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.

Hanke tossed two-thirds of an inning. He allowed two hits, two runs and walked a batter. Danny Brown got the no decision as he worked eight innings, allowed 13 hits and seven runs, walked one and struck out five.

McMillen went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and one RBI. Lorenzo Butler went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored while Kranick went 2-for-3 with the home run and four RBI. He also walked twice. Todd Juliano singled and hit a home run.

In game two, Flagler jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but had to hold on for an 11-8 win.

Jabe Molinaro hit a two-run single in the second and Kranick belted his second home run on the day with a two-run shot in the third to give the Saints a 4-0 lead. In the fourth, Flagler strung together three consecutive RBI doubles (by Fox, Molinaro and Andrew Brodbeck).

A Todd Juliano lead-off home run in fifth provided just enough insurance as the Saints took a 9-3 lead.

McLain Larson (3-0) earned the win in relief as he tossed two innings, allowed three hits and two runs with one walk and one strikeout. Nick Martinez closed the game to earned his first career save. He pitched three scoreless innings and surrendered two hits and struck out one.

Brodbeck went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and one RBI. Kranick went 3-for-5 with the home run and two RBI. Juliano had three hits, including the homer, and scored two runs. Molinaro finished 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Fox hit two doubles, scored three runs and knocked in two more.

Trevor Hutto (6-3) started and took the loss for the Pacers. He allowed nine hits and six earned runs in three innings of work.

Pal went 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Barkell went 1-for-5 with a home run and five RBI.  

Flagler will take a break this week for final exams. The Peach Belt Conference Tournament is next weekend (May 9-10) at Columbus, Georgia.