GREENWOOD – Lander's Jake Hover pitched a two-hit shutout, helping the Bearcats complete a non-conference baseball double-header sweep against West Virginia State Sunday afternoon at Legion Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box )
Lander won the first game, 7-4, and blanked the Yellow Jackets 4-0 in the nightcap. The Bearcats won three of the four games in the series and improved to 10-11. West Virginia State fell to 3-5.
It was the first start of the season for Hover (2-0), who struck out eight and walked three in the seven innings. He allowed only an infield single and a double. Hover's effort helped Lander shut West Virginia State out over the last 13 innings of the double-header.
Game 2 was scoreless going into the bottom of the fifth when after the first two batters struck out, Nate Mangiapane, Alex Baur and Brian Bender walked to load the bases. Malcolm McLeod followed with a two-run, bloop single to center for a 2-0 lead.
Hover got out of a major jam in the top of the sixth after Tyler Nunn doubled and Chad Day walked. Hover retired the next three batters on a strikeout and two ground outs to keep the shutout going.
Lander added two runs in the sixth when Gabe McCann singled, advanced to third when AJ Nunziato reached on a fielder's choice and scored on TJ Guinan's single up the middle. Nunziato scored on a passed ball when the Yellow Jackets catcher couldn't find the ball.
Hover completed the shutout in the seventh to give Lander its fifth win in six games this week. The teams combined for just six hits with the Bearcats collecting four.
West Virginia State got off to a fast start in the opener, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning on singles by Josh Bower and Chad Chambers, an RBI single by Michael Deleeuw, and Ryne Holstine's three-run homer to left center.
Lander used the stolen base as a weapon in the bottom of the first, scoring twice. McLeod singled, moved to second on a ground out, stole third, and scored on Guinan's single to short left. Guinan stole second and scored on Brooks Arnette's single.
The Bearcats took a 5-4 lead in the second with the help of four walks, McLeod's sacrifice fly, and McCann's two-run single. Lander added a run in the third when Nunziato walked, stole second and third, and scored when Bender beat out an infield hit.
The Bearcats tacked on a run in the fifth when Nunziato hit a leadoff double to left and scored on Baur's single.
Lander's Craig Roberson struck out three in the seventh to close the victory out, collecting his third save of the season. After allowing the first four batters to reach base and score, Bearcats starter Derek Whaley settled down to pick up his second victory of the week. James Broderick was the losing pitcher for West Virginia State.
Leading hitters for Lander in Game 1 were Nunziato, who was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and three runs; McCann, 2-for-4 with two RBI; and Baur and Bender, each 1-for-2 with an RBI and two steals. Pacing the Yellow Jackets were Deleeuw and Holstine with two hits apiece.
