GREENWOOD, S.C. – The 40th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team nearly rallied all the way back from a 7-0 deficit in the fourth inning, but Lander reliever Fraser Ellard came on to slam the door on a big rally in the ninth and preserve a series-clinching 7-6 victory for the Bearcats on Saturday at Dolny Stadium.
The setback marked the fifth-straight loss for the Braves (6-6, 1-4 PBC) who also dropped their second-straight Peach Belt Conference series of the season as well. It is the third win in the last four outings for the Bearcats (7-7, 3-2) who evened up its win-loss record for the for the first time in nearly two weeks as well.
| GAME SUMMARY |
| FINAL SCORE |
Lander 7, #40 UNC Pembroke 6 |
| PITCHERS |
WP: Cunningham (2-1) LP: Davis Hurd (0-2) Save: Ellard (1) |
|
| RECORDS |
UNC Pembroke (6-6, 1-4 PBC); Lander (7-7, 3-2 PBC |
| KEY INNINGS |
| BOT 1 |
Nathan Schreckengost hit a 3-run homer with one out in the bottom of the first to give the Bearcats the lead for good. |
| BOT 3 |
Ward Betts drew a one-out walk to get something going for the hosts, and Mike Fitschen finished off the scoring opportunity with a single to left field that brought Betts all the way around from first base. |
| BOT 4 |
Lander put its first two batters of the frame aboard safely, but Davis Hurd appeared to have escaped the threat after sitting down the next two Bearcats in order. However, Bailey Connell doubled in a run with the next at-bat, and the hosts added a pair of unearned insurance runs on a costly throwing error by the Braves. |
| TOP 7 |
Dawson Painter spoiled the shutout for Lander on a two-out RBI double that brought Connor Grainger all the way around from first base. |
| TOP 9 |
The first six batters of the frame reached safely for UNCP who eventually cut its deficit down to just one run after a two-run double from Jarratt Mobley. However, Mobley was gunned down at third base trying to stretch a double, and reliever Fraser Ellard got the last two Braves to ground out. |
| UNCP LEADERS |
LANDER LEADERS |
Brennen Hogan 1-1, 2 RBI, R
Ethan Baucom 2-4, R
Jarratt Mobley 1-4, 2 RBI
Trevor Clemons 1-3, 2 BB |
Schreckengost 1-4, HR, 3 RBI
Fitschen 2-4, RBI, R
Betts 0-1, 2 BB, 2 R
Cunningham 8.0 IP, 7 K |
| UP NEXT |
| The Braves will close out their weekend series against Lander on Sunday at Dolny Stadium. First pitch of the series finale is slated for 1 p.m. |
