GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Jaguars dropped the Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at No. 4 Lander on Saturday afternoon to give the Bearcats a three-game sweep of the series at Dolny Stadium.
Lander's (23-3, 12-3 PBC) Taylor Alvarez went the distance in game one of the doubleheader against the Jaguars (11-15, 3-9 PBC), tossing 9.0 innings to allow nine hits for three runs, while dealing three strikeouts. GRU starter Kip Custer was solid through two, but the Bearcats' Patrick Grady drew a walk and scored after Connor Lewis singled for an RBI.
Tristan Jones took over pitching duties for Custer in the fifth and gave up two in the sixth before the Jags got on board again. In the top of the seventh, Ross Miles scored Connor Gilbert with a sacrifice fly after Gilbert lined a single into centerfield. Lander slapped seven hits for eight runs (four in seventh, four in the eighth) to seal a 12-3 win of the opener in the doubleheader.
Custer (3-4) took the loss in 4.0 innings where he allowed three hits for two runs. Jones who relieved in 2.0 innings, gave up six hits for six runs, while Trey McAvoy went an inning for four runs off four hits after David Bermudez pitched a scoreless inning.
Hunter Boose and JD Sabo went 2-for-4 each in game one, while Gilbert had a 3-for-3 day with a scored run. The Bearcats outhit GRU 14-to-9 in game one, led by Lewis' and Erik Lunde's 3-for-5 performances
In game two, Weston Lawing hit a three-run home run off GRU righty Jamie Suggs in the first inning. Suggs hit three batters and gave up two hits for five runs. Clint Echols took over the mound for GRU in the second, but the Bearcats hit back-to-back singles and took a sacrifice fly to build a 6-0 lead. Lander finished the series with a 10-2 win in game two for Lander.
McCullough (3-0) worked five innings for the victory, allowing two runs on five hits while walking four, hitting one batter and striking out eight while consistently throwing in the mid-90s. Cam Hokanson, Kyle Tate, Bryce Clifton and Johnny Walker each pitched a scoreless inning out of the Bearcats bullpen.
Jamie Suggs (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on two hits, one walk and three hit batters. Clint Echols and Tyler Brown finished up for the Jaguars. Brown gave up two runs, but none earned, over the final five innings. The Jags travel to Anderson, S.C. on Tuesday March 18 for a 6:00 p.m. single non-conference game with the Trojans.
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