NEWBERRY----Newberry College swept its doubleheader against Lander University Sunday afternoon, 8-0 in the first game and 7-1 in the second. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
With the win Newberry improves to 3-1 while the Bearcats fall to 0-4.
Game One: Newberry 8, Lander 0 (6)
Starter Kristen Hicks tossed a complete game shutout as the Lady Indians' offense jumped on the Bearcats early, grabbing an early 5-0 lead after two innings.
Aissa Gatewood started things off for Newberry in the first inning as she hit a leadoff single and stole second base. The Lady Indians took a 1-0 lead when Ginna Dean drove in the freshman with a two-out single.
Newberry quickly loaded the bases in the second inning with a single and two walks. Jesse Groves drove in the second Lady Indians' run with a single which kept the bases loaded for Kat Hammond. Hammond's double scored both Amy Jarrell and Gatewood. After an infield pop-up, Dean picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to left, which drove in Groves.
The Lady Indians picked up their final three runs of the game in the sixth inning. Gatewood tripled to left center which drove in Jarrell. A Groves squeeze bunt scored Newberry's seventh run of the game as Gatewood reached home before a play could be made. A Hammond single and a Dean intentional walk loaded the bases with two outs for Chelsea Garrett. The freshman came through with a bunt single to score Groves and increase the Newberry lead to 8-0.
Game Two: Newberry 7, Lander 1
Lander struck first in the second game jumping out to a 1-0 lead off a solo homerun to right by the Bearcats' right fielder Carrie Hudson in the top of the second.
Newberry quickly got the run back in the bottom of the second as Gatewood drove in Tiffany Pigage when the Lander second baseman was unable to handle a hard grounder off the freshman's bat.
The Lady Indians took the lead the next inning when Garrett hit a double and scored on a throwing error by the third baseman. The run put Newberry up, 2-1.
In the fourth inning the Lady Indians continued to extend their lead. Newberry used a combination of walks and singles to put five runners on the base paths. Dean and Chelsie Hilbourn each had RBI singles as Dean drove in one and Hilbourn drove in two.
Newberry scored its last two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Richelle Mirabal and Haley Watson each drove in a run for the Lady Indians.
Katelin Edwards earned the win with a complete game three hitter.
Dean went 3-4 in the game with one RBI and two runs scored.