COLUMBUS, Ga. – Logan Leverette hit her first career home run and McKenzi Ferguson tossed a complete-game five-hitter as Lander bounced back from a morning loss to West Florida to defeat Albany State on the first day of the Cougar Classic.

Lander fell to West Florida 5-0 and defeated Albany State 2-0.

The Bearcats, who will face West Florida and Albany State again tomorrow, move to 1-3 on the season.

In the first game, West Florida's Taylor Allison (2-0) earned the win after striking out three, walking three and allowing just two hits in seven innings.

Lander's Brianna Surrento (0-2) took the loss, walking one, and allowing four earned runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings.

UWF took the lead in the first inning on an RBI groundout from Kathleen Smiley. 

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth when Smiley and Rachel Wright each recorded RBI singles to make it 3-0 Argonauts.

An error and an illegal pitch plated two more runs for West Florida in the seventh. 

Meghan Toney finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored, while Surrento and Dariean Ward each went 1-for-3 for the Bearcats. 

In the second game, Ferguson (1-1) earned the shutout victory after striking out seven, walking three and allowing just five hits in the complete seven innings.

Albany State's Tiffany Mass (0-2) suffered the loss after striking out four and allowing two earned runs on four hits in seven innings.

Lander took a 2-0 lead in the first when Madison Moore's RBI groundout scored MaKenzie Smith. Leverette, making her first career start, followed with a solo home run. 

On the day, Leverette was 2-for-3, while Jala Stewart led Albany State, doubling in her lone at-bat.