GREENWOOD – The Lander Bearcats completed their first Peach Belt Conference three-game series sweep in three years, winning both ends of a double-header against Armstrong Atlantic State, 4-1 and 7-2, Saturday at Legion Field. (Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore)
Combined with Lander's victory over Armstrong on Friday, it was the team's first PBC series sweep since taking three straight against Georgia Southwestern April 21-22, 2007.
Jordan Owens led the way with four hits in the two games, including a home run and two doubles, as the Bearcats improved to 16-9 overall and 3-6 in the Peach Belt.
Armstrong fell to 16-9, 1-5.
Pitching was a big key to the double-header sweep as Lander won behind Darrin Tew's strong starting performance in Game 1, and a pair of three-inning scoreless saves including Brandon Farquhar in the first game and Drew Elliott in Game 2.
Lander took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth of Game 1 after Devin Ridlehoover and Ryan McNulty singled to left, and Joe Tebaldi reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Aaron Fludd grounded into a double play, scoring the first run. Bud Lanier reached on a throwing error to score the second run.
Armstrong pulled within 2-1 in the top of the sixth when Alex Wyche singled, stole second and scored on a single up the middle by John Roberts. But Tew got out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and ground out to keep the Bearcats in front.
Lander increased its lead in the bottom of the sixth when Robert Skinner singled and Owens hit a two-run homer over the fence in left center, his team-leading seventh round-tripper of the season. It would be the game's final runs.
Pirates center fielder Michael Price saved a run in the bottom of the seventh when he made a diving catch of Skinner's two-out sinking line drive, leaving Tebaldi, who had a leadoff double, stranded at third.
Owens was the leading hitter for Lander in Game 1, going 2-for-4 with a double, homer and two RBI, while Tebaldi and Ridlehoover were each 2-for-3 with a double.
Roberts led the Pirates in the first game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Tew (4-3) was the winning pitcher for Lander, tossing five-hit ball over six innings, allowing one run while striking out five and walking one. Farquhar finished off the victory with three scoreless innings of one-hit ball for his first save of the season. Bryan Roby (1-1) took the loss for Armstrong.
The Bearcats got off to a fast start in the second game, scoring twice in the first inning on RBI singles by Owens and Pete Hernandez.
Armstrong pulled within 2-1 in the top of the third when Jake Sutton tripled to right and scored on Josh Wilson's sacrifice fly to right.
Lander expanded its lead to 4-1 in the fourth when Owens doubled off the fence in right and scored when Ridlehoover reached third on a pitcher's throwing error, and McNulty followed with an RBI double.
The Pirates pulled within 4-2 in the top of the fifth when Wilson was hit by a pitch and scored on Auston Thomas's hit-and-run double through the vacated shortstop position that rolled to the fence.
The Bearcats broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ridlehoover led off with a double to deep right and scored on McNulty's single. Fludd walked and Lanier hit a two-out, two-run triple into the right-field corner.
Leading hitters in Game 2 for Lander were Owens, 2-for-4 with a double and RBI; McNulty, 2-for-4 with two RBI; and Lanier, 2-4 with a triple and two RBI.
Thomas led Armstrong in the second game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Chris Zittrouer was 2-for-4.
Casey Pippin (1-0) got the win in relief for the Bearcats while Elliott finished up for his third save of the season. Starting pitcher Ross Davis pitched three effective innings for Lander while Derek Whaley also tossed a scoreless inning ahead of Pippin and Elliott.
