GREENWOOD – The Lander softball team took game one and fell just short in game two on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader against No. 23 Lenoir-Rhyne at Doug Spears Field.

Lander (7-2-1) jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the Bears in game one as Haven Pesce singled home Bricelin Balcer in the bottom of the second to open the scoring. Shannon Antonini followed two batters later with an RBI single to plate Pesce. Morgan Watson then cleared the bases with a two-bagger to put the Bearcats up five. 

Lenoir-Rhyne (12-2) rallied late with a solo homer in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-3. However, Liz Gollin came out of the bullpen to toss 1.2 scorless innings of relief, retiring the final four batters she faced to earn the save and seal the win. Ashley Vinson (4-1) struck out six in 5.1 innings to earn the win. 

In game two, a two-run single from Watson put Lander up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. The Bears responded with four consecutive runs before Jenelle Figueroa's RBI single made the score 4-3 in the fourth. Both teams traded runs in the fifth and Lander brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the sixth and seventh innings, but Lenoir-Rhyne hung on to earn the split.

Lander faces North Greenville on the road next Thursday.

#cLawsUp | @LanderSoftball