COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Lander offense exploded for 18 runs in two games Saturday as the Bearcat split two games in the PBC Championship. Lander lost to top-seed Columbus State 10-9 in the day's first game and got a walk-off 9-8 win over Young Harris to stay alive.
Columbus State 10 Lander 9
The Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. The Bearcats answered with three runs in the top of the third to make it a one-run game.
After Columbus State made it 5-3, Emily Allen blasted a solo home run in the top of the fourth to make it a one-run game again.
The Cougars exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a commanding 10-4 lead. Lander would get an RBI single by Abbie Behe and a sacrifice flies from Barbara Cook in the fifth to cut the deficit to four. In the top of the seventh, Allen would hit her second home run of the game to score three runs and make it a 10-9 game, but Columbus State would hold on for the win.
Behe finished the game 4-4 with a run scored and two runs driven in, and Allen was 2-4 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the offense. Taylor Scott (15-6) took the loss allowing seven runs on six hits in three innings of work.
Lander 9 Young Harris 8
Trailing 1-0 after the top half of the first, Saje Jone led off with a single, and Behe drew a one-out walk. Barbara Cook hit a home run to center to put Lander up 3-1. In the bottom of the second, Shannon Antonini led off the inning with a home run, and Rylee Omahen later scored on a sacrifice fly by Gracie Derrick to make it 5-1. The Mountain Lions responded with five runs in the top of the third to regain the lead 6-5.
In the bottom half of the inning, Cook was hit by a pitch to lead things off, and Allen drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Logan Coward doubled to right-center to score Cook and tie the game. A sacrifice fly by Antonini scored Allen and gave Lander a one-run lead. An RBI double by Naya Jones scored Coward and made it an 8-6 game. Young Harris would score a run in the fourth and the sixth to tie the game up. Coward ended the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to give the Bearcats the win.
Coward was 2-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Antonini and Cook each had a home run to lead the offense. Cook (2-1) picked up the win allowing one hit and striking out two in one and one-third innings of work.
The Bearcats will now play Columbus State Sunday at 1:00 and must beat the Cougars twice to advance.
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