GREENWOOD----The Lander softball team got a grand slam home run from Melissa Ryals in the first game and a game-winning RBI single from Natalie Smith in the seventh inning of the second contest to sweep Erskine College in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Doug Spears Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)

Lander won the first game, 10-9, in eight innings, then took the second, 1-0.

Lander improves to 5-1 overall, while Erskine opens its season at 0-2.

Ryals' grand slam highlighted a six-run, fourth inning in the opener that gave Lander a 7-2 lead. But Erskine rallied with three runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth and three more in the seventh to tie the Bearcats 9-9.

After holding Erskine scoreless in the top of the eighth inning, Lander scored the winning runs on Brittany Wallace's RBI single.

Wallace (2-1) also earned the victory as she struck out two, walked three and allowed three earned runs on four hits in three innings pitched. Erskine's Rebekah George (0-1) took the loss. George struck out two, walked two and allowed one earned run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

For Lander, Ryals went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs scored and five RBI, while Ashlea Burdette (2-for-3, three runs scored), Wallace (1-for-2, one run scored, one RBI) and Lib Harris (2-for-2, two RBI) all doubled.

For Erskine, Katee Knapp (1-for-2, one run scored, three RBI) and George (1-for-4) both homered. Kelly Davis went 2-for-3 with two doubles, one run scored and one RBI; and Jada Phillips went 2-for-2 with two doubles.

In the second game, Leigh Ann Kelley doubled down the left field line to set up Smith's winning hit.

Austin Murray (2-0) earned the shutout win for Lander as she struck out eight, walked three and allowed just two hits in the complete eight innings. Erskine's George (0-2) took the loss. George struck out nine, walked two and allowed one earned run on four hits in 6.1 innings pitched.

Stewart and Harris got Lander's other two hits.