AIKEN, S.C. - With the score tied at four in the eighth inning, Kyle Rice and the University of South Carolina Aiken baseball team (14-9) mounted a late scoring drive to claim their first win in seven outings as they downed the Trojans of Anderson University (11-16) 8-4 Wednesday night at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

The Pacers were able to take an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning, but struggled to hold the advantage as the Trojans scored two runs in the top of the next inning.

Neither team proved dominant in the early going as Anderson knotted the score at four-all in the top of the seventh inning.

Rice spurred the Pacers ahead of the Trojans in the bottom of the eighth as he brought in Josh Miller for his second score of the game. The run not only broke the tie, but it proved to be the game-winner to end USC Aiken's six-game losing skid.

The Pacers tacked on three more insurance runs before the third out to clinch the victory with Rice, JJ Loker and Jowan Gray all scoring to put USC Aiken up for good at 8-4.

Stephen Bellantoni led the way at the plate for USC Aiken, going 4-for-5 with one run scored and an RBI. Gray was not far off his mark with a 3-for-5 performance including two runs and an RBI of his own.

AU's Troy Ambros was three-for-four with three singles on the afternoon, while right-fielder Ryan Kirkland finished 2-for-4 with a double and a triple and drove in two runs. Zach reeves posted a single and also notched two RBI.

Jeremy Smith claimed the Pacer victory on the mound to improve to 3-0 for the season after coming into the game to relieve starter Jason Cochcroft. Cochcroft pitched six solid innings, fanning seven batters.

Anderson utilized nine pitchers on the night, but it was Justin Rogers who suffered the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year.

The Trojans open a three-game South Atlantic Conference series by playing host to Catawba on Friday, with first-pitch at Memorial Stadium slated for 7 p.m.