GREENWOOD – The Lander baseball team used a seven-run first inning to notch a 10-4 victory over UNC Pembroke on Friday night at Dolny Stadium. 

Lander (6-7, 2-2 PBC) earned its first win over the Braves (6-5, 1-3 PBC) since 2016 and continued its trend of dominant early-inning performances. The Bearcats have now outscored opponents 49-10 in the first three innings of games this season. 

The Bearcats got on the board first with Nathan Schreckengost's RBI double in the first inning, which sparked a seven-run frame for Lander, six of which came with two outs. After Mike Fitschen scored on a fielder's choice, Josh Gregory laced a two-run single to put Lander up 4-0. Vincent Addona broke the game open with a three-run shot later in the inning to give the Bearcats a 7-0 advantage. 

Lander increased the lead to 8-0 on a sacrifice fly from Colton Yeager that plated Ward Betts in the second inning. 

UNC Pembroke responded with runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to cut the deficit in half, but a pinch-hit two-run double from Carson Jones in the bottom of the seventh gave the Bearcats a 10-4 lead. 

Alex Moore (3-1) pitched 5.0 innings in a winning effort, allowing one earned run on five hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Nile Ball (3-1) picked up the loss for UNCP, surrendering eight runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings. 

Lander and UNCP will meet Saturday for the second game of the series at 1:30 p.m.