AUGUSTA, Ga. - Augusta State dropped a Peach Belt Conference single game at Lake Olmstead Stadium Friday night to the Lander Bearcats, 7-1.

LU (18-4, 10-2 PBC) enjoyed a four-run eighth inning to take care of ASU (9-14, 3-6) in the opening game of the weekend series. Freshman righty David Bermudez (5-1) left Bearcats runners in scoring position when he got out of the first inning unscathed with a lineout to center field.

The Bearcats went up 1-0 when they called for a double steal with Ian Harvey on second and Colby Painter on third. LU stretched it to 3-0 in the fourth off a single and run-producing groundout to the shortstop. Bermudez pitched 6.0 innings of work in the loss to give up five hits for three runs (two earned) and a strikeout.

ASU scored its first run against LU starter Dylan Wolchik (5-1) in the fourth, when freshman Logan South singled up the middle to score junior Nate Crown from second, who reached on a leadoff single. Wolchik pitched 8.0 innings for seven hits, one run, and 10 strikeouts, before Johnny Walker relieved in the ninth.

Junior Clint Echols relieved the Jags in the seventh to retire the side with a lineout. In the eighth the Bearcats scored two on an ASU infield error and balk from Echols with runners on the corners. A single at the pitcher from Harvey gave LU a 6-1 lead and brought in ASU slinger Tyler Ross. Ross gave up a pair of singles for another run and a 7-1 final score.

ASU's South went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while LU's Graham Ramos, Chris Hyatt, Connor Lewis, and Harvey each had two hits. The Jags continue the PBC weekend series tomorrow, Saturday March 16 for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at LOS.