GREENWOOD – Daniel Hinchberger won the final Legion Field start of his career, getting plenty of run support as the Lander Bearcats won Game 2 of their non-conference baseball double-header against Pfeiffer, 12-7, Saturday. The Falcons won the first game, 6-3. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Lander takes a 19-31 record into the final week of the season while Pfeiffer is 27-32. The Bearcats conclude their regular season at Peach Belt Conference foe Armstrong Atlantic State next weekend.
The Falcons took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Game 2 on singles by Bryan Braxton and Shawn Coke, Eric Shoemaker's two-run triple, and Josh Strickland's RBI single.
Lander took a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the first when Malcolm McLeod and Robert Skinner singled and moved up on a passed ball, Brooks Arnette drove in a run with a ground out, and Gabe McCann hit an RBI single.
After AJ Nunziato walked, Nate Mangiapane and Hunter Ruoss hit RBI singles. After Zach Strickland relieved Adam Sedberry and walked Alex Baur, McLeod and Skinner also walked to force home two runs. Pfeiffer's third pitcher of the inning, Brett Richardson, got the final out.
Pfeiffer scored three more runs in the second to tie the game at six on Coke's RBI single and Shoemaker's two-run double.
The Bearcats took the lead for good at 7-6 lead in the bottom of the second after loading the bases with nobody out. McCann reached on an error, Nunziato singled, and Guinan walked. Mangiapane hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Lander scored twice in the third to take a 9-6 lead. Arnette started the two-out rally with his fourth homer of the season, a shot over the left-field fence. McCann singled, moved to third on Nunziato's single, and scored on a wild pitch.
The Bearcats continued their offensive assault in the fourth with two more runs. Mangiapane singled, Ruoss reached on a bunt single, Baur sacrificed the runners over, McLeod hit an RBI single, and Skinner drove in a run with a ground out.
Shoemaker singled and scored on Kyle McGarity's triple, pulling the Falcons within 11-7 in the top of the fifth.
Ruoss tripled and scored on Skinner's sacrifice fly in the sixth for the game's final run.
Senior right-hander Hinchberger (5-3) allowed seven runs on nine hits while striking six and walking two in six innings of work. Ches Courtney pitched the final inning for Lander. Sedberry (6-4) took the loss for Pfeiffer.
Lander had six players with multiple hits in the second game led by Ruoss, who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. McLeod, McCann, Nunziato, Guinan and Mangiapane had two hits apiece while Skinner was 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Braxton, Coke and Shoemaker had two hits apiece for Pfeiffer with Shoemaker collecting four RBI.
Pfeiffer took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning of Game 1 when David Barham and Coke hit RBI singles, converted a double steal, and scored on Zack Pou's two-run single.
Shoemaker singled and scored Pfeiffer's fifth run of the game in the fifth when Lander pitcher Jake Hover threw Josh Strickland's sacrifice bunt attempt past first for a three-base error.
Lander scored twice in the seventh on singles by TJ Guinan, Nunziato and McCann, an RBI single off the pitcher's glove by pinch hitter Justin King, and McLeod's run-scoring fielder's choice.
The Falcons increased their lead to 6-2 when Coke singled, moved to third on Pou's hit-and-run single, and scored on the back end of a double steal.
The Bearcats pulled within 6-3 in the eighth when Arnette reached on a passed ball, got to second on an errant throw by the pitcher, to third on Guinan's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Nunziato's ground out.
Chris Miller (3-4) was credited with the win for Pfeiffer in relief of Nick Fogleman, who left the game in the third due to an apparent injury. George Smith got the last two outs of the game for his first save. Hover (2-4) took the loss for Lander.
Pou was Pfeiffer's leading hitter in Game 1, going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Coke was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Barham went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Top hitters for the Bearcats were Nunziato, 2-for-3 with an RBI; and McLeod, 2-for-5 with an RBI.
