GREENWOOD – The Lander softball team gave first-year head coach Brandon Duncan his first-ever collegiate victory Saturday afternoon when the Bearcats defeated Lincoln Memorial University, 4-3, in extra innings in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader at Doug Spears Field. LMU came back and won the second game, 3-2. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander is 1-7 overall, while LMU is 5-1.
In the first game, Brandi Bagwell scored the game-winning run on Nikki Brown's RBI single to right center field in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Lander's Aerin Phillips (1-1) earned her first win of the year as she struck out one and walked one in two-thirds of an inning.
LMU's Jessica Locker (2-1) took the loss, striking out five, walking four and allowing four runs (none earned) on seven hits in 7.1 innings.
Lander took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Lindsey Whitfield reached on an error by shortstop Alisa Burk then stole second. Natalie Smith walked. Whitfield scored on Carrie Hudson's RBI single, then Daisy Stewart doubled in Smith and Hudson.
LMU cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth when Alicia MacIntyre doubled down the right field line then scored on a wild pitch. Amanda Wampler reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Jackie Adams' RBI double.
The Railsplitters tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh when Sammy Jo Garrett singled to centerfield, advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
For LMU, Sara Henn (2-for-4, one RBI), Devin Sponseller (2-for-4) and MacIntyre (1-for-4, one run scored) all doubled.
For Lander, Stewart went 2-for-3 with one double and two RBI, Hudson went 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI, and Sara Senn went 2-for-3.
In the second game, Wampler (3-0) earned the win, striking out three, walking three and allowing two earned runs on six hits in five innings pitched. Henn earned the save in two innings of work.
Lander's Jenna Kellett (0-3) suffered the loss as she struck out one, walked two and allowed three runs (none earned) on four hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
LMU took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning when Adams singled to the pitcher, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a fielding error by Lander left fielder Senn.
The Railsplitters stretched the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Locker and Mira McPeek scored on Garrett's RBI double to centerfield.
Lander trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning. Stewart doubled to right field and scored on Haley Foster's RBI single to centerfield. Foster then scored from third when LMU got Whitfield out on a rundown at first.
For Lander, Smith (3-for-3) and Stewart (1-for-3, one run scored) doubled.
For LMU, Garrett went 1-for-3 with one double and two RBI and Adams went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
