Baseball Falls to #30 USC Aiken

AIKEN, S.C.—After surrendering a four-run eighth inning, the 29th-ranked Barry baseball team fell in their series opener against the #30 USC Aiken Pacers 6-1 on Friday.

Buccaneer ace Manny Rodriguez took the mound and went seven inning and added five strikeouts. Rodriguez gave up six hits and two earned runs. Three of Rodriguez’s six hits came in the first inning after the first three batters singled to load the bases with no outs. After a sacrifice fly scored one run, a base running error from the Pacers and then a strikeout by Rodriguez relieved the Bucs of an early scare.

Senior catcher Chris Leon tied things up for Barry in the third inning on a solo shot over the right field fence. Barry totaled seven hits on the day with no Buccaneers contributing multiple hits.

After four scoreless innings, USC Aiken added one run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 2-1 lead with two inning left to play.

T.J. Mullins entered the game in relief of Rodriguez in the eighth and gave up three hits and four runs. Only one earned run however was charged to Mullins as the Buccaneer defense committed two errors in the frame.

The Bucs posted two hits in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to mount the comeback against the Pacers.

Barry continues the series against USC Aiken tomorrow starting at 1:00 p.m., with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. on the Buccaneer Broadcasting Network.

USC Aiken 6, Barry 1
(Feb 11, 2011 at Aiken, SC)
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Barry..................... 001 000 000 - 1 7 2 (3-3)
USC Aiken........... 100 000 14X - 6 9 1 (3-1)
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Pitchers: Barry - Manny Rodriguez; T.J. Mullins(8) and . USC Aiken - McLeod; Smith(8) and .
Win-McLeod(1-1) Save-Smith(1) Loss-Manny Rodriguez(1-1) T-2:21 A-354
HR BUB - Chris Leon (2).
Game: BB0211