GREENWOOD – Making her first start in over a year, junior Hannah Newton tossed a complete-game two-hitter to help the Lander softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Coker on Tuesday night at Doug Spears Field. Coker won the first game 9-5, while Lander took the second game 3-1.

Lander improves to 5-7 overall, while Coker drops to 12-2.

In the first game, the Cobras' Augusta Jackson (2-0) earned the win after walking two and allowing two earned runs on five hits in 3.2 relief innings.

McKenzi Ferguson (2-4) suffered the loss for Lander, allowing three earned runs on three hits, recording just one out in relief. 

Coker took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Hannah Price doubled off the left field wall and then scored on Allyson High's RBI double to left-center. .

Lander went up 2-1 in the bottom of the inning after Surrento lead off with a single up the middle. A single from Kelli McCormack and a walk to Halie Sorrow loaded the bases with two outs and Casey Kent tied the game by taking a pitch off the leg. Destiny Clyde followed with a single through the right side to score McCormack. 

The Cobras tied the game in the fourth on a sac fly from High, but Lander reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning. Reychel Webster led off with a double, then stole third and raced home when the ball rolled into the outfield. 

Coker opened up an 8-3 lead with six runs on six hits in the top of the fifth, but the Bearcats responded with a two-run home run from Logan Leverette in the bottom of the inning. 

The Cobras made it 9-5 in the top of the seventh on High's second sac fly of the afternoon. 

Lander loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Kent's deep line drive was caught by Cacey Simmons right in front of the centerfield wall. 

Surrento batted 3-for-3 for Lander and Price went 3-for-4 for Coker.

In the second game, Newton (1-0) earned the win in, striking out three and limiting the Cobras to just two hits. 

Nikki Linthicum (2-1) took the loss for Coker, striking out two, walking one and allowing two earned runs on three hits in 4.1 innings pitched.

The Cobras took an early 1-0 on a solo homer from Maria Williamson in the top of the first, but Lander responded as Clyde reached on an error in the bottom of the inning, advanced to third on a bunt from MaKenzie Smith, then raced home when the ball was thrown away.

The Bearcats extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning when Smith laid down a bunt single and Madison Moore followed with a two-run homer to centerfield, her third of the season.

From there, it was all Newton. The sophomore retired the final 10 Cobra hitters to earn the complete-game victory. 

For Lander, Moore was 2-for-3 on the night.