GREENWOOD – Bailey Connell and Conner Davis were a combined 6-for-9 with two doubles apiece as the Lander Bearcats broke a 6-all tie with eight runs in the eighth, opening their Peach Belt Conference series with a 14-6 victory over Francis Marion University Friday night at Dolny Stadium.

Lander improved to 8-18 overall, 2-11 in the PBC. The Bearcats broke a nine-game league losing streak.

The Patriots fell to 12-17, 5-11.

Lander's first home series in three weeks continues Saturday at 2 o'clock with "Stand Up to Cancer Day." The series concludes Sunday at 1.

Connell was 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI, including the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth for the Bearcats.

Davis had his first career three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored for Lander.

"Offensively, we were just in a much better mindset all game," said head coach Jason Burke. "I'm super proud of the offense for the way their sticking to the approach as we go down the stretch."

Nathan Schreckengost also had three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs for the Bearcats. Kyle Jenkins was 2-for-5 with a triple and a two-run single for Lander while also scoring twice. Carson Jones added a home run and two runs scored for the Bearcats.

Francis Marion took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, scoring its first run when Alex Griffith doubled, moved to third on a fly ball out, and crossed the plate on Cole Hinnant's grounder to short. Gage Taylor added a two-run double.

Lander pulled within 3-1 in the bottom of the second when Jones belted his seventh homer of the season.

The Bearcats pulled even with two runs in the third. Davis hit a leadoff single and scored on Connell's first double of the game. Colton Yeager delivered a game-tying RBI single.

Lander grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fourth when Jenkins legged out a triple down the right-field line and scored on Zack Moore's sacrifice fly to left.

The Bearcats added to their lead in the fifth, scoring in their fourth consecutive inning. Schreckengost singled, stole second, and scored on Mike Fitschen's single to center to make it 5-3.

The Patriots plated two runs in the top of the sixth to knot the score at 5-all. William Robbins started the rally by drawing a walk and stopped at third on Griffith's second double of the game. Trey Chapman and Hinnant delivered RBI singles. Chapman tried to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, but catcher Moore got the bounce and threw to pitcher JD Cook for the out at the plate.

Lander regained a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Davis doubled to center and scored on Connell's second RBI double of the night.

Francis Marion tied it in the top of the seventh when Taylor doubled and scored on a single by Robbins.

The Bearcats not only broke the tie but put the game away with eight  runs in the eighth. Moore reached on an error to start the rally and moved to third on Davis's double. Connell put Lander ahead to stay with a two-run single. After Vincent Addona was hit by a pitch, Yeager reached on an error to score two more. Schreckengost added an RBI single, Jenkins singled home two more runs and Davis contributed a run-scoring ground out.

The Bearcats' fourth pitcher of the night, Robbie Hoyt, was credited with the win. Hoyt (2-1) finished the game with 1.1 innings of shutout ball. Arien Seymour took the loss for Francis Marion.

Griffith, Taylor and Robbins each had two hits for the Patriots, including two doubles apiece by Griffith and Taylor.