USC Aiken edges AU baseball team in annual rivalry game at SRP

By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer 

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.—The Augusta University Jaguars baseball team couldn’t hold on against arch-rival USC Aiken, losing 7-5 on Wednesday night, March 30, at SRP Park. 

Left-handed reliever Britt Kelly closed the game for AU, coming in the bottom of the eighth with one out. He said the team’s chemistry seemed to be at another level in the loss. 

“Even though it was a loss, last night felt like the team was playing together really well,” said Kelly, who did not allow a hit in his 1 and two-thirds innings.

During the non-conference game with Aiken, the Pacers struck first in the top of the first and second innings. Sean McQuillan was an unearned run in the first. In the second, Jose Hernandez doubled to left field scoring Kaden Blankenship, and a double from Scott Huntley scored Hernandez. 

The Jaguars’ strongest inning came in the bottom of the third. 

Mason Robertson and Ben Markiewicz were walked in by Pacers’ pitcher Grant Stanford. Even after a pitching change to Luke Parker, there was another bases-loaded walk that would send the Jaguars’ third run in Walker Sinclair across to tie the game up. 

Jordan Wilkie hit a two-RBI single to center field, scoring Kyle LaRoche and Lukas Coker, to make the Jag lead 5-3. 

USC Aiken answered right back in the top of the fourth to bring the game back to a tie of 5-5. 

Tai Gilbert scored on an error, and Huntley scored on a McQuillan RBI single to left field. 

There were two scoreless innings until USC Aiken’s Nick Tripp scored in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Gilbert. 

In the eighth, Pacers’ Tripp hit a sac fly to centerfield, scoring McQuillan. 

AU’s head coach, Chris Howell, said the outing was a good learning moment for the team. 

“We had the opportunity to throw a lot of pitchers for more experience and innings to get ready for the weekend,” said Howell. “We missed on some opportunities to score runs with timely hitting. Pitchers commanded the ball better and threw strikes. We have a good match up with Lander this weekend and need to take care of the little things to win.” 

Baseball’s next series matchup is at Lander University this weekend. First game is Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. A doubleheader will follow the next day with start times at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.  At mid-week, AU will travel to Anderson for a single game.

On the weekend at the end of spring break, AU will host the Pacers in a three-game set.

Contact Shelbie Summerlin at ssummerlin@augusta.edu.

The Jaguars’ Pat Galvin awaits a pitch as Pacer catcher Carson Suess flashes a sign during the 7-5 loss to USC Aiken at SRP Park. At the top of the page, AU’s Nyle Grove (26) hurls the ball early in the contest. (photos by Madison Keel)