GREENWOOD – Pete Hernandez drove in eight runs as the Lander Bearcats opened their 2010 baseball season with a non-conference double-header sweep over St. Andrews Presbyterian 10-1 and 12-4 Sunday afternoon at Legion Field. (Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore)
Lander (2-0) and St. Andrews (0-2) will finish their three-game series Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Legion Field.
Hernandez had five hits, including a two-run homer, in the two games while Bud Lanier went 4-for-4 in the opener while totaling five hits in the double-header.
Robert Skinner and Devin Ridlehoover each had four hits in the double-header, and Ridlehoover stole four bases in as many attempts.
Darrin Tew and Ross Davis were the winning pitchers for the Bearcats, allowing only one run in a combined 11 innings of work.
Lander got off to a good start to the season by scoring four runs on seven hits, all singles, in the first inning of Game 1. Ridlehoover got the rally started with a bunt single, moved to second on Skinner’s single, and scored on Lanier’s single.
Jordan Owens reached on a bunt single to load the bases, Hernandez hit an RBI single, Kevin Childs lifted a sacrifice fly to left, Alan Abreu singled, and Brooks Reames added a run-scoring single.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 6-0 in the second when Hernandez hit a two-run homer over the left-field fence.
Lander added a run in the fifth with the help of a double steal. Abreu singled and was forced out when Reames reached on a fielder’s choice, Ridlehoover walked, then Reames and Ridlehoover pulled off a double steal. Skinner walked to load the bases and Lanier hit a sacrifice fly, making it 7-0.
The Bearcats added their final three runs in the sixth when Abreu hit an RBI double, Childs scored on a passed ball, and Reames hit a sacrifice fly.
St. Andrews ended Lander’s shutout bid in the ninth when Jeff Brothers, after a pair of walks, reached on an error to score a run.
Lanier led the Bearcats in Game 1, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and two RBI while adding a spectacular catch in center field that saved at least one run.
Abreu was 3-for-4, Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, Owens was 2-for-3, and Ridlehoover went 2-for-4 with two steals. Reames was 1-for-4 with two RBI and two steals.
Tew (1-0) pitched six shutout innings, striking out six and walking one. Derek Whaley pitched two shutout innings of relief, and Childs tossed the last inning, giving up an unearned run. Jack Crawford (0-1) was the losing pitcher for St. Andrews.
The Bearcats jumped ahead with a run in the first inning of Game 2 when Skinner walked, Lanier had his fifth hit in a row, and Hernandez lashed an RBI single.
The Knights tied the game with a run in the second when Josh Axelsen singled, Daniel Oliver walked, and Michael Ficarro reached on an RBI fielder’s choice.
Lander took a 3-1 lead in the second when Abreu scored on a wild pitch and Skinner hit a run-scoring double to right.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 4-1 in the fifth when Ridlehoover was hit by a pitch, moved to second on Skinner’s single, and scored on Hernandez’s single to left.
Axelson pulled St. Andrews within 4-2 in the top of the sixth with a line driver homer to left.
Lander blew the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-2 lead. Ryan McNulty started the rally with a double, Abreu walked, Reames reached on a bunt single, and a run scored on a wild pitch. Ridlehoover hit an RBI single, Skinner reached on catcher’s interference, Hernandez hit a two-run single, and McNulty was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the final run.
Ridlehoover and Skinner pulled off a double steal that led to a run in the seventh, Owens had an RBI single, and Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 12-2.
St. Andrews scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Leading hitters in Game 2 for Lander were Hernandez, 3-for-4 with five RBI; Skinner, 3-for-4, four runs, and Ridlehoover, 2-for-3, with three runs.
Michael Cantwell and Axelsen had two hits apiece for the Knights.
Davis (1-0) gave up one run in five innings of work, striking out four and walking two.
