GREENWOOD, S.C. | The University of South Carolina-Aiken jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but had to hold on for a 7-4 win over Georgia College & State University Saturday (May 2) afternoon in an elimination game in the 2026 Peach Belt Conference Baseball Tournament at Dolny Stadium.
The third-seeded Pacers improved to 36-16 and advances to another elimination game Sunday (May 3), while the No. 7 seed Bobcats ended their season at 22-27.
USC Aiken scored twice in the first inning and added four more runs an inning later to take a 6-0 lead. However, the Bobcats started their comeback in the fifth as
Rand Bestermann stroked a two-run homer to the left field to cut the deficit to 6-2. It was the fifth long ball of 2026 for Bestermann.
GCSU added another two-run homer to left in the the sixth inning, this time from
Luke Boone for his team-leading eighth homer of the season, but that would be as close as the Bobcats would get.
GCSU starter
Hogan Mayhew (3-1) absorbed the loss.
The Bobcats only could collect five hits against four Pacer pitchers. In addition to the long balls by Bestermann and Boone,
Evan Cowan,
Carson Phillips, and
Tanner Patterson accounted for the other hits.
About GCSU AthleticsÂ
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for five consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won six consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to theÂ
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