ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Lander baseball team used six runs in the seventh inning to down Claflin 10-6 and to earn their first Peach Belt Conference win on Friday evening at Historic Mirmow Field.

Lander moves to 6-3 on the year while Claflin falls to 2-6.

Starting pitcher Justin Walker earned his first win of the season on the mound with 6.0 innings, as he gave up three earned runs, six hits, one walk, and struck out eight. Claflin starting pitcher Makai Holloway was charged with the loss, as he yielded nine runs in 6.2 innings.

Claflin plated two runs in the first and added another one in the third to take a 3-0 lead after three innings. Later in the fifth, Roury Glanton would launch a two-run bomb, and Jordan Gibert would rip an RBI single to tie the game at three.

The Panthers would retake the lead thanks to a two-out solo home run in the sixth. A clutch RBI single by Matthew Burgess and a grand slam by Evan Harold would give the Bearcats the 9-4 lead after seven innings.

Claflin would score two runs in the eighth and threaten for more, but the Lander defense would hold on to a two-run lead. Mike Fitschen would get a two-out RBI single in the ninth to seal the game.

Evan Harold led the Bearcats at the plate going 1-for-5, with a grand slam and four RBI.

Lander will face Claflin in game two of their three-game series tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Historic Mirmow Field.

#cLawsUp | @LanderBaseball