Box Scores (Game 1 | Game 2)
PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke softball team was averaging over eight runs per game entering Sunday's Peach Belt Conference (PBC) doubleheader at LRA Field, but visiting Lander turned in two stellar pitching performances to limit the Braves to just eight total hits in a 6-0, 3-1 sweep.
The results bring a 10-game winning streak to an end for the Braves (17-6, 2-2 PBC), who saw their league-best batting average fall from .400 to .383 in the process. The Bearcats (9-13, 2-2 PBC) came into Sunday allowing an average of over four runs per game, but held the potent Black & Gold offense to just 13 baserunners across both contests.
Lander grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first in the opener, but UNCP hurler
Abbey Walters held the Bearcats off the board for the next three innings. The guests finally got to Walters in the latter innings and plated two runs each in the fifth and seventh and one in the sixth.
The Braves did not go without their fair share of chances, as the hosts had runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth and again in the sixth with just one out, but were unable to find the clutch hit.
Walters (9-2) tossed her seventh complete game of the season, but was doomed by four wild pitches and four hit batsmen. The senior allowed four earned runs and struck out two Bearcats.
In game two, Lander once again struck first in the opening frame to snag a 1-0 lead before the UNCP offense had a chance. This time, the Braves responded with a run of their own in the first on a long sacrifice fly from
Haleigh Epperson that sent
Jamie Johnson across the plate after she singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Both sides were held scoreless through the next five at-bats before Lander pushed two runs across in the top of the seventh on a trio of doubles. The Black & Gold went down in order in the seventh.
UNCP's best scoring opportunity in game two came in the fourth when a pair of singles from
Taylor Gerhart and
Eden Brown put runners on first and second, but an infield pop out ended the threat.
Malerie Leviner (5-4) took the tough-luck loss in the circle, as the freshman went the distance for the sixth time this season. She had allowed just five hits until the seventh inning. Leviner fanned two batters and walked one on 79 pitches.
The Braves will take a quick break from PBC play for a non-conference twinbill against Newberry Thursday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at LRA Field. The Wolves (13-6) swept Lander Feb. 28 in a pair of 3-2 affairs.
