GREENWOOD – Lander's Chris Munn pitched a three-hit shutout, giving the No. 25 Bearcats a Peach Belt Conference double-header split against USC Upstate Saturday afternoon at Legion Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
The Spartans scored four runs in the ninth to win the opener 6-4, and Lander won the nightcap 3-0.
Lander is 21-10 overall and 6-5 in the Peach Belt. USC Upstate's record is 16-15, 3-8.
Munn (7-1) didn't allow a hit until Brad Wingo's two-out, two-strike bunt single in the fifth. The Spartans threatened in the seventh when Bret Story hit a one-out double into the right-field corner, Andrew Runion walked, and John Caddell singled to load the bases. But Munn got Wingo to fly out to short left and struck Bret Hinson out looking to end the game.
The Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the second on consecutive singles by Jared Altus, Jonathan Myers, Radley Raven and Jesse Barbaro. The hit by Barbaro drove in both runs.
Lander upped its lead to 3-0 in the third when James Compo singled, moved to second on Gabe McCann's walk, and scored on a single by Altus.
In seven innings of work, Munn allowed three hits while walking six and striking out eight.
Scott Eckard (1-3) took the loss for USC Upstate, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Leading hitters for Lander in the second game were Myers who was 2-for-4, Altus who was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Kevin Davis had a triple, and Barbaro who was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Myers led the Bearcats with four hits in the double-header.
Lander appeared to be on its way to a victory in the opener when the Bearcats scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-all tie. Adam Hutchins and Compo walked, Davis reached on an infield single, and McCann singled to left to plate one run. With the bases still loaded, Justin King walked to force home the other run. Lander still had the bases loaded and nobody out but failed to score another run.
The blown opportunity would wind up costing the Bearcats as USC Upstate scored four runs in the top of the ninth on three errors and only one hit. Story had a double, and Runion and Wingo had RBIs in the inning that featured two errors in the infield and one in the outfield.
Lander took a 1-0 lead in the third when Myers singled, Raven reached on a fielder's choice, and Barbaro hit an RBI single up the middle.
The Spartans took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Story walked, Caddell singled, and Wingo hit an RBI double to the fence. Michael Kohn reached on an infield single to drive in the second run.
The Bearcats tied it in the seventh when Myers hit a two-out double to center and scored on Raven's single up the middle.
Game 2 leaders for Lander were Myers and Davis with two hits apiece. USC Upstate's leading hitters were Kohn, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI; and Wingo, 1-for-3 with two RBI.
USC Upstate starter Brandon Williams pitching seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out four. Bradley Blanks (1-0) pitched the final two innings and got the win.
Lander's Derek Wilson pitched well but got no decision. He allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings of work. But he walked six and struck out only one. Evan Christian (3-1) gave up the go-ahead run and took the loss while Brad Hay finished up.
