GREENWOOD – Freshman pitcher Hannah Newton tossed a complete-game shutout in Game 1 to lead the Lander softball team to a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader split against Columbus State Wednesday night at Doug Spears Field. The Bearcats won the first game, 2-0, and dropped the second, 6-4.

Lander improves to 8-10 overall and 5-5 in the PBC, while Columbus State moves to 13-11, 1-1.

In the first game, Newton improved to 5-5 on the season after striking out two, walking two and allowing three hits.

The Cougars' Kristen Carr (7-4) took the loss after striking out one, walking two and allowing one earned run on three hits in two innings of relief.

Lander scored both its runs in the sixth inning when Casey Kent drove in Courtney Adsit with an RBI single to left field, then Emily Marousek, who doubled, later scored on a passed ball.

Marousek and Destiny Clyde had two hits apiece for the Bearcats.

In the second game, the Cougars' Taylor Turner (5-2) was awarded the win after striking out two, walking two and allowing one earned run on three hits in three innings pitched. Lindsey DeFee picked up her second save of the season with five strikeouts, two walks and one earned run on two hits in four innings of relief.

Leadoff hitter Kia Smith gave Columbus State a quick 1-0 first-inning lead when she belted a solo home run over the right field fence.

Lander came right back in the bottom of the inning and tied it at 1-all on Clyde's solo shot over the left field fence.

The Cougars regained the lead at 5-1 in the second when Calli Star's RBI double drove in Lee Anne Rees and Rachel Rhodes, then Turner and Taylor Woods added back-to-back RBI singles.

Lander trimmed the Cougar lead to 5-3 in the third after Halie Sorrow, who doubled, later scored on a throwing error, and Melanie Davis doubled in Molly McNulty.

Turner singled in Rees in the fifth inning to give Columbus State a 6-3 lead

The Bearcats scored their final run in the seventh when Molly McNulty drove in Marousek.

Sorrow batted 3-for-4, while Davis added two hits.