AIKEN, S.C. - Georgia Southwestern had five batters finish with multiple hits and relievers held USC Aiken to one run over the final 5 1/3 innings to earn an 8-5 victory in the Peach Belt Conference weekend series opener on Friday evening at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

GSW improved its record to 11-6 overall and 1-6 in the PBC while USC Aiken fell to 12-4, 7-3 in conference play.

Southwestern led 5-1 after three innings, but USCA came back to tie the contest after posting three runs in the fourth and another in the sixth.

Alex Kranick put GSW on top for good with a two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning to score Will Redding and Evan Alderman. Kranick scored on the next play when Dakota Long singled to right.

Kranick, Long, Devyn Newberry, Brett Burgess and Zach Barron collected two hits apiece to lead the Hurricanes. Kranick entered the game ranked sixth in NCAA Division II with nine doubles. He added two more on Friday.

Skylar Mercado and Chaz Pal led USCA with two hits apiece.

GSW used four different pitchers in the game. Starter Jordan McIlwain did not factor into the decision. McIlwain threw 3 2/3 innings, walked four and struck out a batter. He surrendered five hits and four runs. Reliever Matt Hubbard threw the next 2 1/3 innings and held the Pacers to one run. Mitch Holloway (2-1) earned his second consecutive win by throwing a scoreless seventh inning, where he struck out two, and Chad Adkins closed the door on a Pacer comeback with two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first save of the spring.

USCA starting pitcher Brooks Calvo escaped with no decision. Calvo was pulled after two innings and five GSW runs.  Erik Davis (3-1) took the loss after 4 2/3 innings on the hill. Davis surrendered five hits and two runs. He walked two and struck out seven. James Lynch covered the final 2 1/3.

The series wraps up on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.