GREENWOOD - Lander softball earned a Peach Belt Conference series victory Saturday, sweeping Flagler in a doubleheader at Doug Spears Field with 7-2 and 6-1 wins.
Game One: Lander 7, Flagler 2
Lander (25-13, 10-6 PBC) wasted no time taking control in the opener, plating four runs in the first inning.
Isabella Santos drove in the first run with an RBI single before
Bella Angeli delivered the big swing with a three-run home run to center, giving the Bearcats an early 4-0 lead.
The Bearcats added to their advantage in the third inning when Samantha Bumgarner doubled in a run to make it 5-0. Flagler (10-26, 6-10 PBC) responded with solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings, including a home run from Kiley McQuillan, to trim the deficit to 5-2.
Lander answered in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI from Bumgarner and tacked on another in the sixth on an RBI single from Reagan Hill to seal the 7-2 victory.
Angeli led the offensive effort, going 3-for-3 with a home run, double, and three RBIs, while Hill added three hits as well. In the circle, Mattye Geddings (11-2) tossed a complete game, allowing just two runs, one earned, on seven hits.
Game Two: Lander 6, Flagler 1
In the nightcap, Flagler struck first with an unearned run in the opening inning, but Lander quickly responded. Angeli tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the first before Emily Allen gave the Bearcats the lead with an RBI single in the second.
Lander steadily built its lead throughout the game, adding runs in the fourth and fifth innings on RBI singles from Emorie Anderson and Savanna Price.
The Bearcats broke the game open in the sixth inning off Angeli's RBI triple and later scored on an RBI single by Bumgarner to extend the lead to 6-1.
Paige Sherman (7-5) was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete game and allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out four.
Angeli once again paced the offense, finishing 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Lander totaled 15 hits in the win.
With the sweep, Lander secures the series victory over Flagler and will go for the three-game sweep on Sunday.
The Bearcats will close out the series against Flagler on Sunday, April 12, at 12 p.m. at Doug Spears Field.
