GREENWOOD – The Lander softball team held its own Thursday afternoon against No. 3-ranked North Georgia, but couldn't manufacture enough timely runs as it lost to the Saints, 3-1 and 4-1, in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Doug Spears Field.

North Georgia improves to 38-8 overall and 14-2 in the PBC, while Lander moves to 19-20, 4-12.

In the first game, North Georgia's Jessica Coan (19-3) earned the win after striking out 12, walking one and giving up just four hits in the complete seven innings.

Lander's Hayley Leissner (12-14) suffered the loss after striking out four and allowing two earned runs on five hits in three innings pitched.

North Georgia took a 2-0 lead in the first inning after Kasey Knight's double scored Ansley Williams, then Knight advanced to third on a wild pitch and went home on an illegal pitch.

Katherine Martin's RBI single in the third plated Knight to stretch North Georgia's lead to 3-0.

Lander trimmed the lead to 3-1 in the sixth when Brittney Sheriff singled, advanced to second on a throwing error, to third on a wild pitch and scored on Chasity Davis' single to right field.

For Lander, Sheriff went 3-for-3.

For North Georgia, Knight and Martin batted 2-for-3.

In the second game, Sarah Phillips (14-4) was awarded the win after striking out three, walking one and allowing one earned run on five hits in the complete seven innings.

Leissner took the loss for Lander, striking out five, walking one and allowing four earned runs on nine hits in seven innings.

North Georgia took a 2-0 lead in the third when Knight and Sarah Johnson had RBI singles that plated Natasha Willemse and Williams.

Lander cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth when Taylor Donson scored on Rachelle Adkins' RBI groundout.

North Georgia added two runs in the seventh on Willemse's solo homer to left field and Pilar Harden's sacrifice fly to right field.

For North Georgia, Willemse and Callie Fernendez went 2-for-3, while Knight batted 2-for-4.