GREENWOOD - UNC Pembroke’s Matt McGovern and Brian Willis pitched shut out ball and Seth Kivett hit a grand slam, leading the Braves to a crucial Peach Belt Conference baseball double-header sweep 4-0 and 11-0 over the Lander Bearcats Friday afternoon at Legion Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Kivett had six RBI in the second game as UNC Pembroke moved past the Bearcats in the PBC standings while also spoiling Lander’s Senior Day. The Braves improved to 30-13 overall and 9-10 in the Peach Belt. The Bearcats fell to 24-16, 8-10.
Lander’s senior baseball players were honored before the game as David Glover, Gabe McCann, Andy Quick, Nate Mangiapane, Brad Hay, Tim Rau and Craig Roberson were introduced.
McGovern (6-0) pitched his second shutout of the season in the opener, scattering seven hits while striking out three and walking none. Drew Elliott (4-4) took the loss for the Bearcats.
Pembroke threatened to score in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs and their top hitter, Kevin Dietrich, at the plate. Dietrich lined a shot to deep left center, but Lander center fielder Bud Lanier made a spectacular diving catch to save at least three runs.
The double shutout ended in the top of the seventh when Pembroke’s Jason Coker hit his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot over the left-field fence. The Braves added two more runs in the inning on Dietrich’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Derek Funk’s single.
Funk added a run-scoring single in the ninth, making it 4-0.
Leading hitters for Lander in Game 1 were Brian Bender and Robert Skinner, who were each 2-for-4. Funk led the Braves, going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Pembroke erupted for five runs in the third inning of Game 2. Josh Haley hit a leadoff single, moved to second when Alex Pearce walked, and scored on Dietrich’s single. Funk reached on a bunt single to load the bases, and Kivett followed with a grand slam to left center. It was his 11th homer of the season.
Kivett collected his fifth RBI of the game with a fielder’s choice in the seventh.
The Braves added five runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Tom Porricelli and Joe Mangum, a run-scoring double by Dietrich, an RBI triple by Haley, and a sacrifice fly by Kivett.
Willis (4-2) tossed seven shutout innings, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking one. Matt Key pitched the final two innings for Pembroke. Chris Thomas (3-3) took the loss for the Bearcats.
Leading hitters for Pembroke in Game 2 were Dietrich (3-for-4, two runs, two RBI), Funk (3-for-4), Kivett (1-for-4, six RBI), Coker (2-for-5), Haley (2-for-5), Porricelli (2-for-4), and Pearce (0-1, three runs). Jeff Caskey was the only Bearcat with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
