GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Jaguars took an early lead over the No. 4 Lander Bearcats, but couldn't overcome a big fourth inning as they fell 6-3 in game one Friday night to start their fourth Peach Belt Conference series of the year.

No. 4 in the nation and leading the southeast region, the Lander Bearcats (21-3, 10-3 PBC) threw their ace in Dylan Wolchik against GRU Augusta (11-13, 3-7 PBC) in game one. The Jags went three-up, three-down in their first at-bat against Wolchik, but took stride in the heart of their lineup in the second inning.

Sophomore Hunter Boose returned from his absence due to a lingering hamstring injury and roped a double down the left-field line in his first look at Wolchik. Later in the inning, seniors Ryan Khan and Ross Miles found the gaps in centerfield to score a run each and take a 2-1 lead. Lander's Graham Ramos, who lead the Bearcats with a 2-for-4 day with two runs and two RBI, lead off the bottom of the second with a solo home run off GRU starter Frank Warren to knot the game at 2-all.

Warren (2-2) walked Patrick Grady in LU's first at-bat of the third and lost control of two pitches for Grady to reach third. Another walk put runners on the corners. Weston Lawing capitalized on the free on-base passes with an RBI-single. LU plated three more on two consecutive hits, but Warren got out of the inning when he froze up Chris Hyatt with a strikeout.

Will Robertson relieved Warren to throw 5.0 scoreless innings and matched his three allowed hits with three strikeouts. The Jags couldn't score a run either, as Wolchik (5-0) got the win in 8.0 innings. He allowed eight hits for three runs and struck out three.

The Jags were productive with their three hits. Boose went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI and Khan and Miles each went 1-for-4 with an RBI. The Jags wrap up the Peach Belt Conference series tomorrow in Greenwood with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader with the Bearcats.