GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Lander baseball team used a seven-run inning to pick up its third consecutive non-conference win as the Bearcats defeated Tusculum 12-3 on the road Tuesday night. 

The Bearcats (5-5) were led by a career-high five RBI from Colton Yeager, who smacked two home runs in the win over the Pioneers (6-6). Yeager finished 4-for-6 at the plate, while Mason Dodd added a three-run homer. 

Robbie Hoyt (1-1) earned the win with three shutout innings of relief. Trent Collins (0-1) took the loss for Tusculum, allowing six runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. 

Lander got on the board in the second inning when a throwing error following an Alex Conaway singled allowed Carson Jones to score from third. Tusculum answered in the bottom of the third on an RBI triple from Daulton Martin, who then scored on a wild pitch to put the Pioneers up 2-1. 

The Bearcats opened up the fourth with back-to-back singles from Mike Fitschen and Jones before Dodd cleared the bases with his first home run of the year. With one out, Kyle Jenkins singled and Bailey Connell was hit by a pitch. Both runners stole to move into scoring position and a wild pitch brought home Jenkins to put Lander ahead 5-2. Yeager singled home Connell and, after a walk to Nathan Schreckengost, Fitschen tripled down the right field line to give the Bearcats an 8-2 lead. 

Yeager launched a pair of two-run homers in the sixth and seventh innings to push Lander's lead to 12-2 before Tusculum plated a run in the bottom of the ninth. 

Lander returns to action this weeked with a Peach Belt Conference series at UNC Pembroke.