AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken pounded out 19 hits and tacked up five or more runs in three different frames on the way to a 24-6 win over the 16th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team in the series opener on Friday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

Zade Denton doubled twice on a 3-for-5 hitting line for UNCP (25-8, 12-7 PBC), while Drew Beaver singled three times and scored once on a 3-for-4 plate performance. The setback snapped an eight-game win streak for the Black & Gold.

Kody Belcher hit three home runs and tallied eight RBI on a 4-for-6 night for USC Aiken (23-11, 12-10). Sean Miller homered and drove in a pair of runs on a perfect 4-for-4 showing for the Pacers as well.

Wes Helsabeck (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Braves after giving up 10 earned runs on six hits and four walks in 3-1/3 innings of work. Forrest Koumas (4-2) allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits and a trio of walks over five innings from the hill, but was still able to pick up the win for the hosts. He also struck out four.

UNCP used a fielder's choice RBI knock from Drew Cole in the fourth to whittle its deficit back to just 4-2, but the Pacers put the game well in hand with seven runs in the bottom of the frame to lug an 11-2 advantage into the fifth. USC Aiken would push across five more runs in the following inning to pad its lead out to 16-3.

The squads will wrap up the series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.