GREENWOOD – Armstrong Atlantic State came from behind to win the suspended game, then completed the double-header sweep over the Lander Bearcats, 5-4 and 4-1, in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon at Legion Field. (Game Box 1 | Game Box 2)
Lander was eliminated from contention for a spot in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament by losing the first game. The Bearcats ended the 2009 season with records of 25-23 overall and 8-17 in PBC.
The Pirates will advance to the PBC Tournament, improving their records to 38-17 and 15-12.
The double-header was scheduled for Saturday but was delayed three times by the weather and the game was eventually suspended in the eighth inning and resumed on Sunday.
Lander led 4-3 when play resumed Sunday with a runner on second and one out in the top of the eighth. But Armstrong pinch hitter John Roberts put the Pirates on top with a two-run homer over the left-field fence off Bearcats reliever David Glover, who was replacing starting pitcher Tim Rau. It was his sixth homer of the season.
Lander failed to score in the eighth and needed to rally in the ninth to keep any Peach Belt Conference Tournament hopes alive. Brian Bender and Josh Lovvorn had two-out singles off Armstrong closer Ryan Smith. But, with the count full, Robert Skinner’s line drive to right was caught to end the game.
Armstrong took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of Game 1 on Saturday on four singles, with Carlos Cardoza-Oquenda driving in the run with a two-out bases-loaded infield single. Kenny Cail hit a solo homer to left, making it 2-0 in the third. It was Cail’s fifth homer of the season.
Lander pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the third when Bud Lanier singled, moved to third on Bender’s single, and scored on Lovvorn’s ground out to the right side.
The Pirates extended their lead to 3-1 in the fourth when Cardoza-Oquenda walked, moved to second on Michael Price’s bunt, to third on Josh Wilson’s deep fly out, and scored on Juan Dorado’s single.
The Bearcats stormed ahead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth on three two-out hits. Gabe McCann reached on an error, moved to second on Jeff Caskey’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Devin Ridlehoover’s double to right. Brooks Reames followed with an RBI triple to left center and Lanier hit an RBI single up the middle, giving Lander its first lead of the game at 4-3.
After three scoreless innings, it began to rain heavily again and play was suspended due to poor field conditions.
Leading hitters in the opener for Armstrong were Dorado (2-for-4, RBI), Harris (2-for-3), and Roberts (1-for-1, HR, two RBI). Pacing the Bearcats were Lanier (3-for-4, RBI), Bender (2-for-4), and Reames (2-for-4, RBI).
Cody Walden (11-1) was the winning pitcher for the Pirates while Smith picked up his eighth save.
Armstrong scored single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings of Game 2. Wilson doubled, reached on Dorado’s sacrifice bunt, and bolted home when Cail, who walked, was stealing second. Cordoza-Oquenda had an RBI single in the fourth and Cail doubled home a run in the fifth to make it 3-0.
Lander ended Thomas Gray’s shutout bid in the eighth when Devin Ridlehoover hit a two-out single and scored on a double to right center by Reames.
The Pirates scored their third unearned run of the game in the ninth when Cardoza-Oquenda reached third on a throwing error and scored on Wilson’s two-out double.
Gray (8-4) was the winning pitcher while Glover (1-4), who pitched the first inning of Game 2, took his second loss of the day. Smith picked up his second save of the day and ninth of the season.
