GREENWOOD - The Lander women's softball team snapped a nine-game losing streak Thursday afternoon when the Bearcats swept Newberry College, 2-1 and 4-2, in a non-conference doubleheader at Doug Spears Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander improves to 10-27 overall, while Newberry drops to 16-13.
In the first game, Lander scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim the win. Daisy Stewart walked, advanced to third on Lindsey Whitfield's double to centerfield and scored on a throwing error. Whitfield scored on Haley Foster's sacrifice fly to left field.
Newberry took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Chelsea Chipoletti, who served as a pinch runner for Tiffany Pigage, scored on bases-loaded walk.
Lander's Austin Murray (3-12) was awarded the win as she struck out eight, walked eight and allowed one earned run on five hits in the complete seven innings. Newberry's Kristen Hicks (7-3) suffered the loss, striking out one, walking two and allowing one earned run on two hits in six complete innings.
In the second game, Newberry tacked two runs on the scoreboard in the first inning on RBI singles from Richelle Mirabal and Ashley Marine.
Lander cut the lead to 2-1 in the third inning when Lib Harris scored on a Whitfield RBI single. The Bearcats tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth when Daisy Smith singled, stole second, advanced to third on Foster's fly out and scored on a throwing error.
Whitfield's solo home run in the fifth inning gave Lander a 3-2 lead and the Bearcats scored their final run in the sixth when Sara Senn crossed the plate on Harris' sacrifice bunt.
Jenna Kellett (3-10) earned the win as she struck out one and allowed two earned runs on seven hits in the complete seven innings. Newberry's Katelin Edwards (8-9) took the loss as she struck out four, walked two and allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
For Lander, Whitfield went 3-for-3 with one homer, one double and two RBI.
For Newberry, Sara Powell went 1-for-2 with one double and Kat Hammond went 2-for-3 with one double. Chipoletti also went 2-for-3.
