GREENWOOD - The Lander Softball team used three home runs to take down the Emory and Henry Wasps, 9-3, in their first game of the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational but could not find the timely hits that happened in game one in game two as Lander dropped their first home game of the season, 10-2, to the Wingate Bulldogs.
Lander now sits at 8-2 on the season. Emory and Henry is 1-1 while Wingate improves to 10-3.
Game 1: Lander 9, Emory and Henry 3
Abbie Behe opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning to make it 1-0, Lander. After she was put out on a fielders choice off the bat of
Logan Coward,
Gracyn Millsaps deposited her second homer of the year over the right center field fence to make it 3-0.
The Bearcats added two more in the second off a Gracie Derrick RBI fielder's choice and she was brought home on a Bella Angeli single to make it 5-0 in favor of the hosts.
All remained quiet offensively until the Wasps cracked the scoreboard for three in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to two at 5-3. However, Lander added a pair of two run home runs off the bats of Emily Allen and Behe to make the score 9-3 after six. Bailey Pattison only faced four batters in the seventh to secure her fourth win of the season.
Game 2: #16 Wingate 10, Lander 2
Lander found themselves down 3-0 after three after the Bulldogs plated one in the second and two in the third.
The Bearcats broke through in the bottom of the third and Behe plated Derrick to make it 3-1.
Wingate, however, struck back with four runs in the fifth to make it 7-1.
Lander got one back in the sixth as Raquel Camugila, who just narrowly missed a home run earlier, left no doubt on a solo shot to make it 7-2. However, that was as close as the Bearcats got as Wingate plated three more in the seventh on a trio of Lander errors to secure the eight run win.
The Blue and Gold return to action tomorrow on day 2 of the Bearcat/Fleet Invitational as they are scheduled to face the Young Harris Mountain Lions and Limestone Saints with game times scheduled for 4/6 PM.
