MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Lander Bearcats got strong starting pitching from Cory Hopper and Chris Thomas in a non-conference baseball double-header split at Barry University Saturday afternoon at Feinbloom Field.
Lander won the first game 7-5, while Barry rallied to win Game 2, 5-3.
The teams will play the rubber game of their three-game series Sunday at noon at Barry, outside Miami.
The Bearcats are 9-6 on the season while the Buccaneers are 7-7.
Lander was trailing 2-0 going into the top of the sixth inning of Game 1 when it took the lead with five runs. Jordan Owens hit a leadoff home run, Cody McElhaney singled, and Kevin Childs hit a game-tying double. Erik Lunde, Robert Skinner and A.J. Nunziato followed with RBI singles, staking the Bearcats to a 5-2 lead.
Lander scored twice more in the ninth. Owens walked, stole second, moved to third on a balk, and scored on McElhaney's single up the middle. McElhaney moved to second on a wild pitch, stopped at third when Childs grounded out, and scored on an error to make it 7-2.
Barry, which took a 2-0 lead in the first on a homer by Dean Green, made things interesting with three runs in the ninth. Drew Dwelly, Chris Leon and Green drove in the runs. But Darrin Tew got Matt Petty to fly out to center fielder Marshall Creed for the game's final out.
Hopper (3-0) got the win, allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings of work while striking out six and walking one. Tew recorded his first save of the season, giving up three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out none in two innings.
Barry starter Manny Rodriguez took the loss.
McElhaney was the Bearcats' leading hitter in Game 1, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. James Young was 3-for-4 to lead the Buccaneers while Green and Petty had two hits apiece.
Lander was in position to complete a double-header sweep, taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 2 behind a strong pitching performance by Thomas. But the Bearcats bullpen couldn't hang on.
Lander took a 1-0 lead in the sixth when Nunziato singled, moved to second on a balk, and scored when Owens hit a double.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 3-0 in the top of the eighth after Lunde reached on a leadoff error, and Skinner and Nunziato singled to load the bases. McElhaney plated one run with a bases-loaded walk, and Childs added an RBI single.
But Brantley Blalock, who relieved Thomas to start the bottom of the eighth, walked the bases loaded. Brandon Miller relieved Blalock and walked the only batter he faced, forcing home Barry's first run. Young followed with a grand slam off Lander reliever Ross Davis, giving the Buccaneers the lead for good at 5-3.
The Bearcats put the tying runners on base in the top of the ninth with one out, but failed to score against Barry closer Tyler King.
Lander wasted a strong Game 2 start by Thomas, who allowed no runs on three hits in seven innings of work. He struck out eight and walked three. Miller (1-1) was saddled with the loss because the only batter he faced would score the go-ahead run.
Lander's leading hitters in Game 2 were Childs, 2-for-4; and Nunziato, 2-for-5.
