SAVANNAH, Ga. (May 3) – The Lander baseball team ended the 2008 season on a positive note Saturday afternoon when the Bearcats defeated Armstrong Atlantic State University 3-2 in the second half of a doubleheader. Lander, which finishes the season 20-33 overall and 7-20 in the PBC, scored three unearned runs in the eighth inning to claim the win. Armstrong Atlantic won the first game of the doubleheader, 2-1. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
In the second game, everything looked good for the Pirates to get the sweep as AASU took an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the third inning on a Joey Davis RBI groundout and a heads-up play by Derrek Miller, who scored from second on an error by Lander shortstop A.J. Nunziato.
Lander, however, surprised the Pirates in the eighth by plating three unearned runs off of closer Brandon McCreery (3-2). A dropped fly ball by Nick Pyron leading off the inning eventually led to Lander loading the bases loaded with two out. McCreery uncorked a wild
pitch that scored Brooks Arnette for the first run, then pinch-hitter Josh Lovvorn laced a single to right field that plated two, giving the Bearcats the 3-2 lead.
Lefthander Tim Rau (4-6) then put the cap on a complete-game performance, limiting the Pirates to two runs – one earned – while
striking out two to pick up the win. McCreery gave up four hits and three unearned runs in two innings to take the loss.
Price led the Pirates in the doubleheader with four hits and two stolen bases, while Smith collected a pair of doubles and three hits in the game one win. Malcolm McLeod led the Bearcats with four hits in the doubleheader, while Gabe McCann had three hits and two steals.
In the first game, Tommy Ray's pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth inning brought home the winning run.
Senior Chris Smith led off the bottom of the ninth in game one with a double off the left field fence. Michael Price then singled to right off of reliever Ches Courtney, setting up runners at first and third. With the infield drawn in, Ray delivered the pinch-hit single up the middle, scoring Smith with the winning run and putting the Pirates (27-21, 14-13 PBC) into the PBC tournament.
The single also made a winner of lefty Cody Walden (7-5), who hurled a complete-game five-hitter, giving up just one run while striking out nine for the Pirates. Jake Hover (2-5) took the loss for Lander, giving up 10 hits and two runs in eight-plus innings, striking out seven.
