PEMBROKE – Visiting USC Aiken negated an early 3-0 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning, but seventh-ranked UNCP rallied for three unanswered runs down the stretch, including Josh Haley's two-run homer in the eighth, to turn back the Pacers, 6-4, in the front half of a series-opening doubleheader on Saturday at Sammy Cox Field.

The triumph stretched the winning streak for UNCP (22-3, 6-3 PBC) out to seven games, while also giving the Braves their best 25-game start in school history. The setback marked the fifth-straight league loss for USC Aiken (14-10, 1-6), as well as the seventh defeat in the last eight outings for the Pacers as well.

Haley singled, homered, stole a base and scored twice on a 2-for-3 day to pace the UNCP attack which got base hits from seven different batters on the day. Newcomer Eitan Maoz walked, doubled and scored two runs on a 1-for-2 hitting line for the Braves as well. Four different players recorded base hits for the Pacers including shortstop Stephen Carmon who drove in a pair of runs on a 1-for-3 plate performance.

Reliever Brantley Hattrich (3-0) grabbed his second win in his last three appearances after striking out two in three hitless innings of work. Newcomer Braxton Lewis worked the ninth, allowing just one hit en route to booking his second save of the campaign. Reliever Jeremy Smith (3-1) allowed two earned runs on as many hits and a pair of walks to saddle the loss for USC Aiken. He also struck out two batters.

The Braves utilized a costly throwing error by USC Aiken third baseman J.J. Loker to plate a pair of unearned runs in the second, and then pushed its advantage out to 3-0 on Keith Whitman's RBI single in the third. After failing to record a hit off of UNCP starter Josh Bagley through the first four inning, the Pacers finally got something going in the fifth, sending eight batters to the plate in a four-run frame to grab a 4-3 lead.

However, Jason Coker's RBI single with two outs in the seventh tied the game back up, and Haley rattled the trees in left field with his fourth home run of the season with two outs in the eighth for the eventual game-winning runs.