PEMBROKE – Senior Starr Gilley was effective in the middle for the UNCP softball team as she went the complete game and held the Lander Bearcats to only two hits as the Lady Braves breezed past Lander for the 4-1 victory in Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday at LRA Field.

Gilley (8-9) grabbed the victory after facing 26 batters with nine strikeouts, two walks and two hits with one earned run after 109 pitches thrown. The Graham native faced three batters in the first, third, sixth and seventh innings and struck out each batter in the third. She logged at least one strikeout in every inning except for the sixth.

UNCP (19-26, 5-11 PBC) notched eighth hits with junior Shelby Holland, freshman Caitlin Steel and sophomore Megan Hillard each capturing two hits, while senior Holly Berry and sophomore Brea Hartley nabbed one apiece. Hartley drove in two runners for two RBI, while Berry, Hartley, Steel and Sequoia Barrett scored the four runs.

Lander (14-25, 4-12) ended the game with one hit each from Taylor Donson and Brittney Sheriff as Sheriff scored the Bearcats' only run. M.K. Pegram (5-9) went 5-2/3 innings in the circle for Lander and allowed all four earned runs on seven hits, as well as striking out five batters. Amanda Hamby clinched the final out after giving up one hit.

The Lady Braves used a leadoff homer in the second inning as Hartley homered to left field for the first run of the game and followed up with the game-winning run as Steel reached on a single and scored on Hillard's double to left field.

The Bearcats put their only run of the game up on the board as Sheriff reached on a triple and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Chasity Davis.

The Black and Gold notched the final two runs in the sixth as Berry tripled along the right field line, and using Barrett as a pinch runner, crossed home plate on Hartley's sacrifice bunt. Holland continued with a double through the left side and ended the game with Steel's single up the middle to score the run.

The Lady Braves will hit the road on Saturday for a conference doubleheader with Flagler (24-14, 5-7) with first pitch scheduled for noon in St. Augustine, Fla.

To watch the full game click HERE.