GREENWOOD – Robert Skinner's two-run double helped lift Lander to a victory in Game 1 while West Virginia State shut the Bearcats down in the second game as the teams split a non-conference baseball double-header on a cold, windy Saturday afternoon at Legion Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander won the opener, 6-3, behind pitchers Daniel Hinchberger and Brad Hay. The Yellow Jackets took the second game, 11-2. AJ Nunziato accounted for both Bearcat runs in Game 2 with solo homers.
Lander, which had a three-game winning streak snapped in the second game, is 8-11. West Virginia State is 3-3. The teams will play another double-header Sunday at Legion Field. With winds gusting to around 40 miles per hour and temperatures hovering in the 30s Saturday, much more comfortable weather is expected Sunday.
West Virginia State opened the Game 1 scoring with two runs in the top of the fourth on RBI singles by Ryne Holstine and Chase Day. But Lander took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on Malcolm McLeod's run-scoring single up the middle and Skinner's two-run double off the fence in left-center. Both hits came with two outs with Skinner's shot giving the Bearcats a 3-2 lead.
Lander expanded its lead to 6-2 in the fifth with the help of three walks and two hits. Brooks Arnette started the rally with a walk, Nunziato lined a single off the pitcher's body, Nate Mangiapane walked to load the bases, and Alex Baur walked to force home a run. Brian Bender hit an RBI single and McLeod reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the final run.
West Virginia State threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out on singles by pinch hitter Shaun Vernesoni, Tyler Nunn and Chad Chambers. Michael Deleeuw walked to force in a run, but with the tying runs on base, James Broderick struck out and Eric Workman flied out to end the game.
Hinchberger (3-1) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked four. Hay pitched the last two innings, earning his first save of the season. Travis McGrath (0-1) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets.
Leading hitters in Game 1 for Lander were Nunziato, 2-for-3 with two runs; and Skinner and McLeod who were each 1-for-3 with two RBI. Chambers paced West Virginia State, going 2-for-4.
The Yellow Jackets drew first blood in the opening inning of Game 2 on RBI singles by Holstine and Workman.
West Virginia State increased its lead in the fourth when Holstine, Bo Darby and Josh Koepsel singled to load the bases and Jeremy Fisher walked to force home a run. Josh Bower followed with an RBI bunt single and Chambers reached on error to score two more runs, making it 6-0.
Nunziato led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run over the left-field fence.
But the Yellow Jackets responded with a home run of their own. After Nathan Koepsel singled and Bower walked, Chambers crushed a three-run homer over the fence in left to make it 9-1.
West Virginia State's Todd McQuistion (1-0) tossed four innings of two-hit, shutout baseball to earn the Game 2 victory while Shane Long finished up for his first save. Bearcats starter Tim Rau (0-2) was the losing pitcher.
Leading hitters in Game 2 for the Yellow Jackets were Bower, 4-for-4 with three RBI; Holstine, 3-for-4; Chambers, 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI; Workman, 2-for-3; and Darby, 2-for-4.
Nunziato led the Bearcats by going 3-for-4 with two homers and finished with five hits in the two games.
