AUGUSTA - The Lander softball team rallied for three runs in the seventh inning Tuesday afternoon as they defeated Augusta State, 3-1, in the second game and split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with the Jaguars at Jaguar Field. Augusta State won the first game, 12-4, in six innings.
Lander finishes the season at 21-22 overall and 6-14 in the PBC, while Augusta State moves to 30-16, 11-9.
Trailing 1-0 going into the seventh, Morgan Robinson's RBI single to the shortstop plated Jade Deason, who was pinch running for Chasity Davis. Lander took a 2-1 lead when Brittney Sheriff's double to right center scored Sarah Fuller, and the Bearcats scored their final run on Taylor Donson's RBI single that sent Sheriff home.
Hayley Leissner (14-16) earned the win after striking out one, and allowing one earned run on four hits in the complete seven innings.
Augusta State's Emily Headrick (14-5) took the loss after striking out six, and allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits in 6.2 innings pitched.
The Jaguars scored their lone run of the game on Jessica Thornton's solo home run in the fourth inning.
For Lander, Sheriff went 3-for-4 and Robinson 2-for-3.
Thornton went 2-for-3 for Augusta State.
In the first game, Augusta State's Heather Hughes (11-7) was awarded the win after striking out four and allowing four earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
Lander's Leissner was tagged the loser after striking out two, walking three and allowing five earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Sheriff belted her fifth triple of the season then scored on Donson's sacrifice fly to left field.
Augusta State tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning after Kristen Jones' RBI single plated Thornton.
The Jaguars extended the lead to 4-1 in the third inning after Kacey Sims went home on a bases-loaded walk and Hughes and Laura Brown had back-to-back RBI singles that scored Jones and Kaitlin Harris.
ASU made it 6-1 in the fourth inning when Kacee Camp's run-scoring single plated Thornton and Harris' shot up the middle scored Camp.
Lander trimmed the lead to 6-4 in the sixth on Jaime Presnell's RBI single that sent Jade Deason home, and Alyssa Hartley's two RBI single scored Presnell and Rachelle Adkins.
The game was called due to the eight-run rule in the sixth inning after Augusta State tallied six runs. Thornton scored on a bases-loaded walk, Alyssa Pingree's single scored Jones, Camp went home on a wild pitch, Laura Brown and Kacey Sims had sacrifice flies, and Thornton's RBI single ended the game.
For Lander, Arielle Buchholz and Presnell each went 2-for-3.
For Augusta State, Destiny Echols batted 2-for-5, while Hughes and Brown went 2-for-3.
