GREENWOOD – The Lander softball team earned a pair of victories on day one of the Bearcat Challenge at Doug Spears Field on Saturday, beating Emmanuel 4-3 and topping Walsh 7-4.

In game one against the Lions, Lander (11-2-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first on Alana Frye's RBI single, then extended the lead to 4-0 in the third on a three-run homer from Haven Pesce. Emmanuel (5-7) rallied for three runs in the final four innings, but Liz Gollin tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save and secure the win. Eliza Gonzalez (2-1) allowed three runs on six hits in 5.2 innings for the win. 

Against Walsh (3-1), another long ball from Pesce tied the score at 1-1 in the second inning. Lander trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, but an RBI single from Shannon Antonini knotted the score and Sydney Grimes put the Bearcats ahead for good with a two-run single. Jenelle Figueroa then scored on an error and Morgan Watson brought Grimes home with a double to give Lander a 6-2 cushion. 

After the Cavaliers plated two in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit in half, Ashley Vinson homered to cap the scoring in the bottom of the frame. 

Lander faces Virginia-Wise at 3:00 p.m. and Walsh at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

#cLawsUp | @LanderSoftball