GREENWOOD – The Lander baseball team would hold on in the ninth to earn the 4-3 win in its PBC home opener against Augusta Friday night at Stephen B. Dolny Stadium.

Lander moves to 8-3 overall and 3-0 in the PBC while Augusta falls to 1-9 on the year and 0-4 in the PBC.

Lander struck first for the seventh time this season, as the Bearcats pushed across a run in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI single by Roury Glanton. Augusta would respond as they would use an RBI double to tie the game at one.

Followed by an error on the first basemen, a Bearcat runner would come across to score to break the tie in the fifth. The Jaguars would respond with another RBI double to tie the game.

Bo Richey would rip an RBI double to give Lander the lead again in the sixth. In the next inning, Mike Fitschen would connect on an RBI single to add another run. Augusta would cut the deficit to one in the eighth on a sacrifice fly. With Jaguar runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, Bryce Jackson would get back to back strikeouts to end the game.

Justin Walker started on the mound for the Bearcats and threw a career-high seven innings and departed with a 4-2 lead. He struck out a career-high ten batters and only allowed three hits and one walk to earn his second win of the year. Ryan Flores and Praise Thorsen would come in relief in the eighth. Bryce Jackson would come in the ninth and earn his PBC leading fifth save of the season.

Lander and Augusta will return to the field for game two of the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

#cLawsUp | @LanderBaseball