Lander overcomes 12-run deficit, splits with Blue Hose
GREENWOOD, SC--The Lander baseball team rallied from a 12-run deficit in the first game of Wednesday’s non-conference doubleheader with Presbyterian to force a split with the Blue Hose. Lander won the first game, 14-13, but lost the nightcap, 4-1.
Lander improves to 18-26, while Presbyterian is 22-27.
The 12-run margin in the first game was the biggest comeback a Rusty Stroupe-coached team has ever experienced.
Presbyterian jumped to a 12-0 lead in the third inning when the Blue Hose scored four in the first, two in the second and six in the third. But the Senators rallied for eight runs in third inning, one in the fourth and three in the fifth to tie the game 12-12.
Presbyterian edged back out to a 13-12 margin in the sixth inning and held the one-run advantage until the Blue Hose self-destructed in the bottom of the seventh.
Lander scored two runs on two Presbyterian errors to win the game, 14-13.
Lander’s Kevin Faulkner (2-1) earned the victory, allowing no runs and no hits in one inning pitched. Leading hitters for Lander were Justin Rende 1-for-4 with one double, while Tyler Winningham went 3-for-5 with two RBI, Randy Carlson 2-for-3 with one RBI and Jason Spivey 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Presbyterian’s Mark Dudley (6-4) took the loss.
Davis Rice went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI and Kevin White went 2-for-3 with one double and three RBI. Other leading hitters for PC were Chris Turco 2-for-5 with one RBI and Matt Warren 1-for-3 with two RBI.
In the second game, Rice (3-1) collected the win, striking out five, walking four and allowing no earned runs on four hits in seven complete innings. Leading hitters for Presbyterian were Tombo Hite, 1-for-4 with one double; Rice 1-for-3 with one double.
Lander’s David Lee (2-3) suffered the loss, striking out six, walking four and allowing two earned runs on four hits in four innings pitched. McCreight King went 2-for-4 for Lander.