Lexington opened the Region 5-4A season with a 9-2 win over Aiken on Tuesday at home.

It was the first game back in town after the Wildcats (5-1, 1-0) lost their Top 10 national ranking (and perhaps their No. 1 footing in South Carolina Class 4A) with a 4-1 loss to Conway in the IP Classic tournament in Georgetown.

Nick Ciuffo’s grand slam in the fourth inning highlighted a five-run burst that broke the game open. Cole McMillan was the star of the game, earning his first pitching decision of the season and stroking two hits with one RBI offensively. McMillan allowed two runs and struck out 10 in his five-inning stint on the mound. Brandon Camp and Dalton Addy also had two hits for Lexington, while Ryan Brown had one hit in one official at bat, drew two walks, scored two runs and drove in one.

Lexington’s tournament setback was enough to be dropped from the No. 5 spot in the preseason Collegiate Baseball ranking to 18th in the first regular season poll.