AIKEN, S.C. --- Steven Spire pitched a completed game effort as top-seeded USC Aiken defeated No. 5 seed Tusculum College 9-2 Friday in an elimination game of the NCAA Division II Southeast Baseball Regional at Hernandez Stadium on the USCA campus.

The fifth-ranked Pacers (40-18) advance to an elimination game on Saturday afternoon against an opponent to be determined. The Pioneers end their season at 36-18.

The visiting team in the game, USC Aiken jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings. Travis Howard drove in the first two runs of the game with his two-run single, for his 101st and 102nd RBI of the season.

In the second, Alex Franklin connected on a two-run homer that barely cleared the left field wall off of South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year C.J. Hillyer. After a walk, TC reliever Rob Currie came in for Hillyer and got Howard to fly out to end the inning.

The Pacers manufactured another run in the top of the third via Jamie Benjamin with his single up the middle to get on base. Benjamin stole second to get in scoring position and later moved to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Gary Asbill swung at a third strike, but the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Benjamin to score and give the Pacers a 5-0 lead.
After Sean Finucane scored in the bottom of the fifth for Tusculum's first run of the game, USC

Tusculum scored its first run of the day when Sean Finucane led off with a single and moved to third on Richmond's 14th double of the season to put runners in scoring position at second and third. Sean Cotten reached on a fielder's choice as Richmond was thrown out at third, allowing Finucane to score. Paul Finger singled to move Cotten to second base with one out. But Matt Ford lined out to the third baseman and Cotten was doubled up at second to end the inning as TC trailed 5-1.

USC Aiken got the run back in the sixth inning as the Pacers capitalized on another TC error when Franklin led off with a double and scored on a two-base miscue off the glove of Jared Richmond.

The Pioneers down 6-1, cut the Pacer lead down by one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Aaron Hudgins scored from third on a throwing error by Howard. The Pioneers would threaten once again in the bottom of the seventh inning, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Spire struck out rookie Tyler Collins to end the inning.

USC Aiken added two runs in the eighth inning and Spire retired six of the final batters he would face to improve to 7-2. It was his second complete game of the season as he threw 150 pitches as he walked two and posted five strikeouts.

The Pacers finished with 15 hits, including a 4-for-5 effort by Franklin who came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Tusculum accounted for nine hits, led by Finucane's 3-for-5 effort. Finger also had a multi-hit outing with his 2-for-5 showing.

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