ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Flagler Saints plated nine runs in four innings to defeat Lander in the first game of a Peach Belt Conference series Friday night at Drysdale Field. 

The Saints improved to 15-6 overall, 4-0 in the Peach Belt.

The Bearcats fell to 8-12, (3-4).

The teams will conclude the series Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m..

Lander took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Alex Conaway led off with a double and Mason Dodd drove him home with another two-bagger.

However, a three-run homer from David Drysdale in the bottom of the second sparked a nine-run rally for Flager, as the Saints scored four in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth and one in the fifth to build a commanding 9-1 lead.

Lander put together a comeback in the ninth, as Alec Dowell singled home Dodd and Reed Gray. Colton Yeager followed with an RBI single to pull the Bearcats within five runs. Nathan Schreckengost grounded into a double play, but drove in Dowell to make the score 9-5. However, with the bases empty and two outs, Lander could not complete the rally.

Flagler starting pitcher Cooper Wallace (4-1) allowed just one run on five hits in 7.0 innings, striking out 12 and walking three. 

JD Waite (1-1) suffered the loss for Lander, surrendering eight runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings.