DAHLONEGA, Ga. - Fifth-seeded Lander continued its late-season surge with a 6-4 upset win over No. 4 seed USC Aiken in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at The Hill.
With the win, the Bearcats (25-24) advanced to face top-seeded and No. 10-ranked North Georgia in the semifinals later that same day. Lander trailed 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning when play was suspended due to inclement weather. The game will resume Sunday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m., picking up where it left off. The PBC Championship game will follow the conclusion of the semifinal.
Game One - Lander 6, USC Aiken 4
Against USC Aiken (28-25), Lander rallied from an early 2-0 deficit by scoring six unanswered runs, capitalizing on three Pacer errors. A three-run fifth inning put the Bearcats in front, and two more unearned runs in the seventh secured the win.
Reagan Hill led the Bearcats at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a critical seventh-inning double. Sajarie Jones reached base twice and scored two runs with one RBI, while Kara Vonachen and Linda Moore each added RBIs.
Jacy Ayers (5-6) earned the win in relief, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing just two runs on five hits. Starter Paige Sherman went 2.2 innings before handing the ball off with the game still within reach.
Despite collecting eight hits, the Pacers were undone by defensive miscues. Lakyn Phillips (16-4) took the loss, allowing six runs — all unearned — over seven innings.
Lander will resume its semifinal matchup Sunday afternoon in Dahlonega, looking to complete the upset of the nationally ranked Nighthawks and punch its ticket to the Peach Belt title game.
