GREENWOOD – The Lander softball team used a six-run, third inning Wednesday night to power its way past USC Aiken, 7-2,  in the nightcap and earn a split of the Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Doug Spears Field. USCA won the first game, 4-3. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)

Lander moves to 11-16 overall and 1-5 in the PBC, while USCA is 19-8, 3-3 in the PBC.

In the second game, Lander took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Haley Foster doubled, advance to third on Hayley Leissner’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Shelly Grimsley’s sacrifice fly.

With bases loaded and no outs in the third, Lander stretched the lead to 7-0 when Lindsey Traynham walked in, Carrie Hudson scored on Natalie Smith’s RBI single, and Foster stroked a three-run triple down the right field line. Foster later scored on Leissner’s sacrifice fly.

USCA cut the lead to 7-2 in the fifth when Kellie Hair and Megan Lakes crossed the plate on Lander errors.

Leissner (7-12) earned the win as she struck out four, walked one and allowed no earned runs on five hits in the complete seven innings.

USCA’s Lauren Rickabaugh (5-3) took the loss as she walked one and allowed seven earned runs on seven hits in six innings.

For Lander, Foster went 2-for-3 with one triple and one double to go along with two runs scored and three RBI. Sara Senn and Smith both went 2-for-3.

USCA’s Lakes went 1-for-4, while Jennifer Day was 2-for-3.

In the first game, USCA’s Kathleen Nichols (6-2) earned the win as she struck out five, walked five and allowed three earned runs on 12 hits in the complete seven innings.

Lander’s Leissner suffered the loss as she struck out four, walked two and allowed two earned runs on seven hits in the complete seven innings.

USCA broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth when Lauren Locklear scored on Whitney Clary’s sacrifice fly. The Pacers scored their final run in the seventh on Candace Hardee’s RBI double.

USCA led off the scoring in the second inning as they took a 1-0 lead on Kendra Baker’s RBI double.

Lander tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning when Aubrie Phillips scored on a groundout.

The Pacers regained the lead at 2-1 in the third on Locklear’s RBI double, only to have Lander tie it again at 2-2 on Phillips’ RBI single.

For USCA, Jessica Strickland (2-for-2), Hardee (1-for-4), Locklear (2-for-4) and Baker (2-for-3) all doubled.

Lander was led at the plate by Hudson (3-for-4) and Phillips (2-for-3).