GREENWOOD – The Lander baseball team fell to North Greenville in a close 4-2 contest at Dolny Stadium Friday evening.

Lander falls to 1-3 overall while North Greenville moves to 4-2 overall.

Both teams saw plenty of offense, as the Bearcats and Crusaders combined for 22 hits

The Bearcats would be the first to score. Although allowing two runners to reach in the top of the first, Lander would use three consecutive hits with two outs to plate the game's first run.

North Greenville would try again in the second inning. With a runner on first, Jax Cash sent a missile down the third-base line; but expert fielding and a pinpoint throw from Vincent DeRubeis prevented a run as he hit Ethan Wilder who then hurled a throw to Bradley Davis at home to deny the Crusaders scoring attempt.

Lander would strike once again with two outs, this time in the bottom of the second. A deep drive from Walker McDowell scored Matthew Burgess from third to give Lander a 2-0 advantage.

The Crusaders would get on the board in the third on an RBI single to left-center to score a runner from second base.

Neither side would be able to plate any runs in the fourth or fifth innings before North Greenville would score a run on a sac fly to left field to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth.

The Crusaders would break through and take a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth on yet another sac fly, this time to center field. North Greenville would tack another run on in the top of the ninth to make it a 4-2 game for the Crusaders.

Bennett Sloper got the start and went 4.1 innings and struck out two Crusaders. Anson Merrick was awarded the loss after pitching 1.2 innings of relief.

Lander starts a two-game series at Queens (N.C.) tomorrow, as the Bearcats battle the Royals on Saturday and Sunday on the road at 1 pm.

#cLawsUp | @LanderBaseball