PEMBROKE, N.C. – Dariean Ward and Reychel Webster both homered in the first game Saturday afternoon to lead the Lander softball team to a 5-0 victory and a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader split against UNC Pembroke at LRA Field. The Braves won the second game, 13-5.

Lander moves to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the PBC, while UNCP is 9-4, 1-1.

In the first game, Hannah Newton (2-1) earned the shutout victory after striking out five, walking one and allowing just three hits in the complete seven innings.

UNCP's Selena Ashley (5-2) suffered the loss after striking out five, walking two and allowing three earned runs on five hits in seven innings.

Lander took a 2-0 lead in the fifth when Emily Marousek, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Melanie Davis' RBI double to left centerfield. Davis, who advanced to third on a passed ball, later scored on Destiny Clyde's sacrifice fly.

The Bearats stretched their margin to 5-0 in the sixth on Ward's led off home run to left field and Webster's two-run shot to centerfield.

In the second game, UNCP's Katie Saunders (4-1) earned the win after striking out eight, walking two and allowing five earned runs on 13 hits in six innings.

Lander's Amanda Chastain (1-2) took the loss, walking one, and allowing three earned runs on three hits in three innings.

UNCP led off the scoring in the second inning on Brea Hartley's solo home run.

After Lander's Halie Sorrow tied it at 1-all with a solo shot in the fourth inning, the Braves went up 7-1 in the bottom half on an RBI single by Hartley, a Lexie Coxe sacrifice fly, and a Karlee Wilson grand slam.

The Bearcats cut the margin to 7-2 in the fifth after MaKenzie Smith went home on Casey Kent's groundout, then Lander added three more runs in the sixth when Courtney Adsit and Sorrow had RBI singles that plated Davis and Clyde, and Casey Wooten advanced home on Webster's fielder's choice.

The Braves put the game away in the sixth inning via the eight-run rule after Whitney Jackson scored on a throw, Hartley smacked a two-run homer, and Taylor Gerhart, Toni Nelson and Megan Hillard all had solo home runs.

For Lander, Sorrow batted 3-for-4 and Ward 2-for-4.