GREENWOOD – Kenny Cail drove in six runs and Joey Davis hit a grand slam, leading Armstrong Atlantic State University to a 20-6 Peach Belt Conference victory over Lander Saturday at Legion Field.
Armstrong improved to 20-9 overall and 4-6 in the Peach Belt. The Bearcats fell to 10-21, 3-13. The teams will play a double-header Sunday at 1 o'clock at Legion Field.
The Pirates jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first when Marc Noble and Tyler Evans singled, Truman Marek hit an RBI single, and Cail knocked a three-run homer over the left-field fence. It was Cail's first homer of the season.
Lander pulled within 4-2 in the third. Jonathan Myers hit a leadoff homer to left, his second of the season. Gabe McCann walked, moved to third on Malcolm McLeod's single and stole home.
Armstrong upped its lead to 7-2 in the fourth on three hits, a walk, hit batsman, error and wild pitch. Cail had an RBI single in the inning.
Eric Barrett's first homer of the season pulled Lander within 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
Armstrong pushed the lead to 9-3 in the fifth when Davis singled and scored on Noble's triple. Noble scored on an errant relay throw.
Sean Hotzak's RBI double made it 10-3 in the sixth.
The Pirates blew it open with nine runs in the top of the seventh. Evans and Marek hit RBI singles, Cail hit a two-run double, and Davis hit a grand slam down the left-field line.
McLeod singled home a run for Lander in the bottom of the seventh.
Josh Wilson homered in the ninth for Armstrong. The Bearcats got two runs in the bottom of the ninth on RBI singles by Hunter Ruoss and Barrett.
Austin Ducey (5-0) was the winning pitcher for the Pirates. Justin Altman (4-3) took the loss.
Armstrong had eight players with multiple hits. Leading the way were Cail, 3-for-5 with a homer, 6 RBI, and three runs; Davis, 3-for-4, 4 RBI, three runs; Evans, 3-for-5, RBI, three runs; Noble, 3-for-5, RBI, four runs; Marek, 3-for-6, 2 RBI, three runs; Wilson, 3-for-5, a homer and two runs; Dallas, 2-for-5; and Hotzak, 2-for-6, RBI.
Leading the way for the Bearcats were McLeod, 3-for-5, RBI; Barrett, 3-for-4, a homer and two RBI; Myers, 2-for-3, a homer, and two runs; and Ruoss, 2-for-5, one RBI.
