AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken (1-0) escaped with a walk-off victory on Jose Bonilla's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to down the Railsplitters (0-1) 2-1 in Friday night's season-opening game at Roberto Hernandez Field. The two pitching staffs combined to allow just nine hits—all singles—and strike out 29.
 
Elliott, Chase Randolph and Dominic Morabito held a high-powered USC Aiken offense that ranked 11^th in NCAA Division II in 2017 with 8.5 runs per game in check for eight innings. Elliott went the first six and struck out 10 in a masterful performance. The junior lefty allowed eight baserunners on four hits, three walks and a hit batter but stranded seven and picked off the other. The first six outs he recorded were via strikeout.
 
Zach Rafuse held up his end of the pitchers' duel and held the Railsplitters scoreless through five innings. The junior righty allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out eight but left with a no-decision. Three Pacer relievers combined to strike out eight batters over the final four innings but also walked six. Daniel Wiggins picked up the win with a scoreless ninth.
 
Randolph pitched a 1-2-3 seventh but allowed two Pacers to reach in the eighth. Morabito finished the inning by striking out the next two batters but unraveled in the ninth. The redshirt senior righty hit the first two batters of the frame and allowed the walk-off single two batters later to blow the save and pick up the loss.
 
The Railsplitters left 11 runners on base, including two in each of the fourth through seventh innings, and couldn't come up with a timely hit. Logan Augustine drove in the team's only run in the top of the seventh with a bases-loaded sac fly. LMU batters ended an inning with a strikeout eight times and struck out 16 times total.
 
Seth Hunt, Timmy Wages and Joe Stucky tallied the only LMU hits with one single apiece. Tyler Adams walked three times and stole a base, while Dalton Dedas walked twice and scored the Railsplitters' only run.
 
Bonilla and Joey Smithers were the only two players on either side to record multiple hits with two apiece. Smithers scored the winning run after reaching for a third time on a hit-by-pitch.
 
First pitch for game two of the three-game series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday back at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. There is a possibility Sunday's finale could be moved to Saturday as well due to weather concerns.
 
Quick Hits

- LMU has lost seven straight season openers to the Pacers and hasn't started a season 1-0 since 2011.

- The Railsplitters have dropped 19 of their last 21 meetings with USC Aiken dating back to 2011.

- Augustine reached base for the 27^th straight game with a walk in the sixth inning.