GREENWOOD - The Lander baseball team swept a doubleheader against Emmanuel Sunday afternoon at Stephen B. Dolny Stadium to wrap up an undefeated weekend. The Bearcats recorded a 9-2 win in game one and tallied an 8-7 victory in the second game.

Lander moves to 5-2 on the year while Emmanuel falls to 1-5. The Bearcats are off to its best start since 2016 when they started the season 5-2.

Following three scoreless innings in Game 1, Emmanuel struck first in the contest with two runs in the top of the third. The next half-inning, Evan Harold would rip an RBI double to centerfield that would score two runs. Harold would later score from third thanks to a groundout to the shortstop by Mike Fitschen to give the Bearcats a 3-2 lead.

Neither team could put a run on the board in the fourth, fifth, and sixth inning. In the seventh, Matthew Burgess would get an RBI single, and Justin Wager would later score on a sacrifice fly by Mike Fitschen to add two more runs. Lander would seal the game in the bottom of the eighth as they would score four runs highlighted by a Matthew Burgess bases-loaded triple.

Redshirt-junior Davis Cunningham started on the mound for the Bearcats and threw 4.0 innings as he gave up two earned runs on three hits. He struck out seven batters and walked three. Fraser Ellard came in and pitched 4.0 innings of solid relief as he gave up one hit, struck out seven, and only walked one to earn his first win of the year. Freshman Jackson Bryant came in and struck out two to close the game out in the ninth.

In Game 2, Emmanuel scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single to jump out to 3-0 lead in the first inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Mike Fitschen would connect on an RBI single to trim the deficit. The Lions would add two more runs in the second to push their lead out to 5-1. Matthew Burgess would rip an RBI double in the gap that would score three and Mike Fitschen would hit an RBI single to tie the game at five after two innings.

Back to back RBI doubles by Bradley Davis and Justin Wager would break the tie in the third. Mike Fitschen would collect his third RBI of the night on a single to center field in the sixth inning. The Lions would cut the deficit to only one thanks to an RBI double in the seventh. The Bearcats would seal the game with a scoreless eighth and ninth inning.

Junior Carson Schlegel started on the mound for the Bearcats and threw 5.0 innings to earn his second win of the year. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and only walked two batters. Praise Thorsen would come in and give up two earned runs, three hits, strikeout three batters, and would walk one in 2.0 innings of middle relief. Marshall Thompson would come in and pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Bryce Jackson would close the game out in the ninth to earn his third save of the year.

The Bearcats will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Newberry. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. at Stephen B. Dolny Stadium.

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