GREENWOOD – Lander's Hayley Leissner struck out 13 and allowed just four hits in the first game and Lander held off a rallying Newberry College in the second to claim a non-conference softball doubleheader sweep, 7-0 and 4-2, Saturday afternoon against the Wolves at Doug Spears Field.
Lander improves to 7-3 overall, while Newberry is 3-7.
In the first game, Leissner improved to 4-2 overall in the complete game shutout.
Newberry's Amber Holley (2-3) took the loss, striking out two, walking one and allowing five earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings pitch.
For Lander, Brittney Sheriff went 2-for-4 with one triple, two runs scored and three RBI, while Alyssa Hartley went 2-for-2.
For Newberry, Codi Kelly went 1-for-1 with one double.
Lander took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Casey Corbitt and Sheriff scored on a Newberry fielding error.
Lander exploded for five runs in the fourth inning to extend its lead to 7-0. Jaime Presnell singled, advanced to second when Hartley was hit by a pitch and scored on Rachelle Adkins' RBI single down the left field line. With bases loaded, Sheriff's RBI triple plated Adkins, Blair Hammonds and Corbitt. Sheriff later scored on Arielle Buchholz's bunt single.
In the second game, Amanda Hamby (1-0) was tagged the winner after striking out two and allowing one earned run on five hits in five innings. Leissner picked up her second save of the season as she struck out three and kept the Newberry bats silent for two innings.
The Bearcats took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when Adkins scored on a throwing error, Buchholz's RBI single plated Corbitt and Sheriff scored on a throwing error. Hartley's RBI single in the third plated Jaime Presnell and gave Lander a 4-0 advantage.
Newberry cut Lander's lead to 4-1 in the fifth when Casey Stevens doubled to left field and scored on Casey Buccellato's RBI single. The Wolves made it 4-2 in the sixth when Codi Kelly doubled to left field then scored on a fielding error.
For Lander, Sheriff batted and Hartley both went 2-for-4.
For Newberry, Kelly (2-for-4, one run scored) and Stevens (2-for-2, one run) both doubled.
