GREENWOOD - Kevin Jones had a game-winning hit in the first game, and three more singles and a run-saving play in the field in Game 2, helping the Lander Bearcats sweep a Peach Belt Conference baseball double-header, 6-5 and 5-3, over Augusta State Saturday at Legion Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander improved to 11-6 overall and 2-3 in the Peach Belt. The Jaguars fell to 3-11, 0-5. The two teams play the final game of their three-game series Sunday afternoon at Legion Field.
Jones had been 0-for-4 until delivering the winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning of the opening game. After Nick Roxby reached on a one-out error and Gabe McCann walked, Jones knocked a single just inside the right field line to score Roxby from second base.
Augusta State was cruising with a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning of the opener. But the Bearcats rallied for five runs in the eighth, and the Jaguars responded by scoring the tying runs in the ninth.
Jesse Barbaro led off Lander's five-run eighth with a walk, advanced to second on a single by Adam Hutchins, and scored the first run on Ryan Brisby's hit to left. Ryan Emmett relieved David Beumel and was greeted by James Compo's single up the middle. The centerfielder booted Compo's hit, allowing Hutchins and Brisby to score and tie the game at 3. Roxby tripled home the go-ahead run off the centerfielder's glove and scored on McCann's sacrifice fly to right center.
But the Jaguars tied it in the top of the ninth on Kevin Kelley's single, a walk, and a hit batsman, followed by Jorge Virguez's pinch-hit, two-run single to left off reliever Brad Hay. But Hay escaped further damage by getting Dustin Taylor to pop out to second, and struck out Clay Haynes to leave the bases loaded. The game stayed tied until Jones' winning hit.
Augusta took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on Jimmy Tenerovich's two-run homer and Garrick McGrath's run-scoring double. Taylor reached on an error to lead off the inning, then Tenerovich homered over the left-field fence. Haynes singled and scored on McGrath's two-out double to the center-field fence.
Lander starter Chris Munn pitched well, striking out 12 batters in eight and one-third innings. He allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits while walking three. Hay (3-1) got the win in relief, allowing two hits and two walks in one and two-thirds innings.
Augusta starter Beumel allowed three runs, two earned, in seven and one-third innings. He walked four and struck out four. Trey Williams (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing two hits and two walks in one and two-thirds innings.
Hutchins led the Bearcats at the plate in Game 1, going 3-for-4. Compo was 2-for-5 and Barbaro went 2-for-3. Preston Crews and Kelley had two hits apiece for Augusta State.
Lander took the lead for good in the second game with three runs in the bottom of the second. Compo led off with his first homer of the season, a line drive off the scoreboard in right. Brisby, Jones and Will Gary singled to load the bases. It was the first college at-bat for Gary, a Greenwood native. McCann singled to right to drive in two runs, giving the Bearcats a 3-2 lead.
Jones, playing second base, saved the potential tying run from scoring when he robbed Kelley of a hit with two outs and a runner on second in the sixth. He dived to his left, speared a tough hop, and threw on to first for the out.
Lander scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Gary, who reached in all three plate appearances, was hit by a pitch. Jonathan Myers pinch ran for him and advanced to second on McCann's bunt. Following Radley Raven's single, Barbaro hit a double down the right field line to score one run, and Hutchins added a sacrifice fly.
Augusta scored single runs in the first, second and seventh innings. Its first run scored when catcher Hutchins made an errant throw trying to nab a runner who was attempting to advance on a wild pitch. Chris Demons hit an RBI double in the second. Taylor singled home a run in the seventh.
Jones led the Bearcats at the plate, going 3-for-3. Barbaro was 2-for-4 with an RBI while McCann went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Demons led Augusta, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Evan Christian (1-0) got the victory with three hitless innings of relief. Lander starter Derek Wilson lasted three-plus innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while walking two and striking out three. Matt Conyers relieved Christian in the seventh and got the first out while Jake Hover allowed one run but got the last two outs for his first save.
Justin Walker (1-3) was the losing pitcher for the Jaguars, allowing 10 hits and five runs in 5.1 innings of work. He struck out four and walked three.
