Box Score AIKEN, SC - #17 USC-Aiken struck out 15 Chowan batters in route to a 7-3 win over the visiting Hawks. The Hawks battled to keep the game close but the Pacer pitching staff kept Chowan from scoring in eight of nine innings of play. Chowan falls to 9-12 after the loss while the #17 nationally ranked Pacers improve their record to 13-4. The two teams will wrap up the series on Wednesday with a single, nine inning game. 

USC-Aiken got on the board first after exploding for four runs in their first at-bat. The Hawks and the Pacers played three innings of scoreless ball after CU's Tyler Ross settled down on the mound. Chowan answered the Pacers with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th inning. Ryan Moore walked to lead off the inning and Michael Stroebel reached base after being hit by a pitch. After two strike outs, CU's Evan Seymour struck out swinging but advanced to first on a passed ball, which scored Moore. Colby Wiggins singled to load the bases and set up Justin Bagbey. Bagbey produced two runs with a single to right field to cut the Pacer lead to 4-3. With the first at-bat out of the way, Ross settled down to pitch a solid game where he scattered just three hits and gave up no runs until the 7th inning. Ross ran into some trouble in the 7th inning.

The Pacers added to their lead with two runs and Ross was relieved by Anthony O'Brien. O'Brien finished up the game. He gave up a run and struck out one in 1.1 innings pitched. Ross ended the game with the loss after tossing 6.2 innings with 10 hits and six runs. 

Bagbey paced Chowan with a 3 for 4 outing at the plate with two runs driven in. The Hawks were held to six hits in the game. 

The teams will wrap up the two-game series on Wednesday. Chowan will  travel to Shaw University for a CIAA three-game series over Saturday and Sunday.