PEMBROKE, N.C.----UNC Pembroke plated seven runs in the sixth inning of game two to earn the 10-5 win, while Lander downed the Braves 6-5 in game one to earn the doubleheader split Saturday afternoon in Peach Belt baseball action. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Following the split, UNCP improves to 22-14 on the year and 8-6 in league action, while Lander moves to 24-12 and 7-7 in conference play.
In game one, the Braves plated three in the second to take an early 3-0 lead on a Cole Franks sacrifice fly, a Barrett Otto RBI-single and a Lander error that allowed Jason Morales to race home from third. UNCP then tacked on a run in the fifth as Jeff Adams scampered home from third on a groundout double play giving Pembroke a 4-0 advantage with four innings to play.
Lander responded and put a three-spot on the scoreboard in the sixth thanks to a James Compo leadoff homer, a Jordan Jones RBI-single and a safety squeeze by Gabe McCann cutting the Braves' lead to three, 4-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Pembroke manufactured a run and pushed their lead to 5-3 when Alex Keith, who reached on Lander's fifth error of the game and moved to second on a sac bunt, scored from second on a base hit to center by Jason Morales.
The Bearcats would not give up as Adam Hutchins blasted the first pitch UNCP reliever Jacob Allen delivered in the seventh over the left field fence to get Lander within one, while McCann connected for a solo homer in the eighth to knot the game at five runs apiece.
Lander then plated the game-winning run in the top of the ninth as Kevin Davis drove home Hutchins from third on a sac fly to right. Hutchins reached to start the inning on a two-base error by UNCP leftfielder Brian Brice and moved to third on a sac bunt.
Brad Hay (6-1) earned the win after pitching the final three innings, while UNCP's Jacob Allen (1-2) took the loss as he surrendered a run in each of the final three frames.
The second game saw Lander score a run in the first and three in the second to push ahead 4-0 after two frames. The big hit of the second inning rally came as McCann blasted a two-run homer to right.
The Braves rallied for three runs in their half of the fourth to cut the Lander lead to one, 4-3. Pembroke pushed across its first run on a bases loaded walk, which was followed by a sac fly of the bat of Kevin Dietrich
and a wild pitch that allowed Tripp Lockhart to trot home from third.
UNCP continued its assault as seven Braves crossed the dish in the sixth to vault ahead 10-5. A monstrous two-run homer to left off the bat of Jason Morales capped off the seven-run rally, while Franks had a two-run double down the left field line.
Pembroke's Nolan Johnson (7-2) threw a complete game to earn the win, while Lander starter Chris Munn (7-2) gave up eight runs in 5.1 innings of work to take the loss.
Lander and UNCP will conclude their three-game Peach Belt series on Sunday, April 2, at 1:00 pm.
