MARS HILL, N.C. – The Lander softball team split its season opening doubleheader against Mars Hill Friday afternoon at Ponder Park. The Lions defeated the Bearcats in game one, 1-0, in eight innings. Lander came back and won game two, 2-1. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)

Both teams are 1-1 on the season.

Game one was a pitcher's duel between the two teams. The Mars Hill combination of Tiffany Farthing, Paige Brantley and Tara West, who picked up the win, surrendered only six hits and no runs to the Bearcats. Lander's Hayley Leissner pitched 7.1 innings and allowed only seven hits and one unearned run but lost the decision. Mars Hill was finally able to break through in the bottom of the seventh inning when Anna James' RBI single score Ashley Angell.

Mars Hill struck first in game two in the bottom of the fifth inning when Rebekah Huff scored on a groundout by Angell. Lander responded with two runs in the top of the sixth. Daisy Stewart's RBI single scored Bree Shirley, then Stewart crossed the plate on Carrie Hudson's RBI single.

The Lions were able to get runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh inning with nobody out, but Leissner came into the game and induced three straight outs for her first save of the season. Lander's Aerin Phillips allowed only one hit in one inning of relief work to pick up the win. West was tagged with the loss after pitching two innings of relief and allowing two earned runs on three hits.

Mars Hill will travel to Lander for a doubleheader Saturday. The first game will start at 1 p.m.