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Lander University

HOME OF THE LANDER UNIVERSITY BEARCATS #CLAWSUP
6
Lander LU 5-4
7
Winner Wingate WU 7-2
Lander LU
5-4
6
Final
7
Wingate WU
7-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Lander LU 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6 9 3
Wingate WU 2 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 7 13 1

W: Lily Huneycutt (4-1) L: Geddings, Mattye (0-1)

8
Winner Lander LU 6-4
2
Wingate WU 7-3
Winner
Lander LU
6-4
8
Final
2
Wingate WU
7-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Lander LU 0 0 3 0 1 1 3 8 8 0
Wingate WU 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 0

W: Schurlknight, Payton (1-0) L: Lily Robbins (1-1)

Bella Angeli Home Run vs Catawba 2026
Vickie Breedlove

Game Recap: Softball | | Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Angeli Hits Two as Bearcats Use Long Ball to Earn Split

WINGATE, N.C. - The Lander softball team showed resilience and offensive firepower Wednesday afternoon, splitting a road doubleheader at Wingate. The Bearcats rallied late in game one before falling in extra innings, 7-6, but responded with authority in game two behind a dominant offensive performance and strong pitching to secure an 8-2 victory.

The split moves Lander to 6-4 on the season.

Game One: Wingate 7, Lander 6 (8 inn.)

After trailing most of the afternoon, Lander mounted a dramatic comeback in the seventh inning to force extra innings, highlighted by a clutch swing from Ava Perkins.

Wingate built a 6-0 lead through five innings, using timely hitting and capitalizing on Bearcat miscues to create separation early. Despite being held scoreless into the seventh, Lander's offense erupted when it mattered most.

Isabella Santos got the rally started with an RBI double to center field, scoring Kara VonAchen, who reached base twice and finished 2-for-2 with two walks. Freshman Cora Robinson then delivered in her first collegiate at-bat, lining an RBI single to right center to cut the deficit to 6-2 and spark the Bearcats' comeback, setting the stage for Perkins.

Perkins delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a game-tying three-run home run to center field to even the score at 6-6. The home run was Perkins' lone hit of the contest, but it accounted for four RBIs and erased Wingate's advantage in dramatic fashion.

Lander totaled nine hits in the opener, with VonAchen leading the way with two hits and three times on base. Santos added a double and an RBI, while Robinson contributed a pinch-hit RBI single. Emorie Anderson also reached base three times, collecting a hit, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch.

In the circle, Paige Sherman struck out one across three innings, while Mattye Geddings provided four innings of relief, allowing just one earned run.

Wingate, however, capitalized on an error in the eighth inning to bring home the winning run and secure the 7-6 decision.

Game Two: Lander 8, Wingate 2

The Bearcats responded emphatically in game two, using three home runs and a balanced pitching effort to secure the split.

Bella Angeli led the offensive charge, delivering a breakout performance with two home runs and four RBIs. Her three-run homer in the third inning gave Lander a 3-1 lead and shifted momentum, and she added a solo shot in the seventh to extend the advantage.

Isabella Santos followed Angeli's lead in the seventh inning, launching a two-run home run to left center to put the game out of reach. Santos finished with two RBIs, while Perkins added an RBI double and a sacrifice fly as part of another productive outing.

Lander finished with eight hits, including doubles from Perkins, Brie Cazares, and Samantha Bumgarner. Reagan Hill and Emorie Anderson each contributed hits, with Anderson driving in a run and scoring once.

Payton Schurlknight earned her first win of the season, allowing two runs over three innings. Brie Cazares and Mattye Geddings combined to shut down Wingate over the final four innings, allowing just one hit and no runs to preserve the victory.

VonAchen also played a key role offensively, reaching base three times with two walks and a hit-by-pitch, while Angeli's two-homer performance marked the Bearcats' most dominant offensive showing of the day.

Lander returns to action this weekend as the Bearcats continue their early-season schedule, looking to build on their offensive momentum after combining for 14 runs and four home runs in Wednesday's doubleheader split.

The Bearcats return home Saturday to host Newberry College in a doubleheader at Doug Spears Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with game two to follow.
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