GREENWOOD – The Lander softball team dropped its Peach Belt Conference opening doubleheader Thursday afternoon when the Bearcats were defeated by Armstrong Atlantic State University, 4-3 and 11-5, at Doug Spears Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Armstrong Atlantic improves to 8-2 overall and 4-0 in the PBC, while Lander drops to 1-11, 0-2.
In the first game, Jacquie Crane (1-1) picked up the win in relief, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up one run and striking out two. Starter Courtney Tucker struck out one, walked four and allowed two earned runs on two hits in 3.1 innings.
Lander's Austin Murray (0-4) took the loss, striking out two, walking three and allowing three earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings.
AASU struck first when Ashley Bain singled, advanced to second on Nicole Huddleston's sacrifice bunt, to third on a wild pitch and scored on Erin Billingsley's RBI single to left field.
Armstrong extended the lead to 3-0 in the third when Sam Floyd singled, advanced to third on Natalie Voglers' single and scored on Bain's RBI single. With bases loaded Huddleston scored on Sara Morris' walk.
Lander trimmed the AASU lead to 3-2 in the fourth when Lindsey Whitfield's two-RBI double scored Daisy Stewart and Brandi Bagwell.
The Pirates stretched the lead to 4-2 in the sixth when Stephanie Mattes was hit by pitch, stole second, advanced to third on an throwing error by catcher Haley Foster, and scored on Jessica Strong's RBI single to centerfield.
Lander cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth on Whitfield's solo home run over the left field fence.
For Lander, Whitfield went 2-for-3 with one home run, one double and three RBI; and Stewart went 3-for-4 with two doubles.
For AASU, Strong went 2-for-4 with one double and one RBI; Bain went 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI.
In the second game, AASU exploded for five runs in the fourth inning to break away from the Bearcats for the win. The Pirates Floyd (3-1) earned the win on the mound as she struck out six, walked three and allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits in seven innings.
Lander's Jenna Kellett (0-4) suffered the loss, walking one and allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings of work.
AASU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Strong scored on Vogler's RBI single and Vogler crossed the plate when she advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error by shortstop Brianna Huckabee.
Lander tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Hudson stroked a two-run homer over the left field fence.
The Pirates retalitated with Strong's solo shot over the leftfield fence to take a 3-2 lead in the third.
In the fourth inning the Pirates took an 8-2 lead. Kyndal Schaf, pinch running for Huddleston, scored on Mattes RBI single, Strong added a three-RBI double, and Mattes scored on catcher Stewart's throwing error to second base.
Lander cut the margin to 8-4 in the fifth when Lindsey Sammons scored from second on left fielder Billingsley's fielding error and Hudson crossed the plate on Stewart's RBI single.
Kari Marsico capped the Pirates victory with a three-run homer in the seventh.
For Lander, Hudson went 3-for-4 with one home run, one double, two runs scored and two RBI; Natalie Smith went 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI; and Stewart went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
For AASU, Strong went 3-for-5 with one home run, one double, three runs scored and four RBI; Marsico went 1-for-3 with one home run, and three RBI; Vogler went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI; and Mattes went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
