GREENWOOD, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team split its season-opening, non-conference doubleheader at Lander on Saturday, winning the opener, 4-3, and losing the second game, 6-5.

Newberry and Lander are both 1-1 overall.

In the first game, the Bearcats' Daisy Stewart gave Lander a quick 1-0 lead when she hit a solo home run in her first collegiate at-bat. Newberry tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning on an RBI single by senior Jenny Raines (Blythewood, S.C.). The Lady Indians took a 3-1 lead in the sixth on a two-run home run by freshman Sara Powell (Ocean View, Del.), then scored its final run in the seventh inning when Allison Porter (Chapin, S.C.) drew a bases-loaded walk to round out the Lady Indians' scoring.

Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) started the season at 1-0 with the win, striking out four, walking six and allowing three earned runs on seven hits in the complete seven innings pitched. Lander's Brittany Wallace (0-1) took the loss, striking out four, walking five and allowing three earned runs on four hits in six innings pitched.

Powell went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI and Raines went 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Lander's Melissa Ryals went 2-for-3, while Stewart went 1-for-3.

In the second game, Ashlea Burdette (1-0), earned the victory for Lander, striking out three and allowing two earned runs on 11 hits in the complete seven innings. Newberry's Stephanie Monette (Conway, S.C.) took the loss to go to 0-1 on the year, striking out three and allowing four earned runs on nine hits in six innings pitched.

Burdette went 3-for-4 with one double, two runs scored and one RBI, while Corrie Bessinger went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Ryals went 2-for-3 with four RBI.

Newberry's Courtney Lindler (Irmo, S.C.) went 3-for-4 with one home run, one double, three runs scored and one RBI; Ginna Dean (Willow Springs, N.C.) went 2-for-4 with one triple, one run scored and one RBI; Powell went 3-for-4; and McKenzie Phillips (Wallace, N.C.) went 2-for-3.

Lander commited six errors, while Newberry had four.

Newberry plays its home opener on Tuesday, as the Lady Indians host USC Upstate for a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

Special thanks to Lander University Sports Information for their assistance with this article.

Newberry College 4, Lander University 3 (Feb 03, 2007 at Greenwood, SC) (Game 1)
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Newberry College.... 000 102 10 -  4  6  1      (1-0)
Lander University... 010 001 1X -  3  7  0      (0-1)
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Pitchers: Newberry College - Kirby, C.. Lander University - Wallace; Murray(7).
Win-Kirby, C.(1-0)  Loss-Wallace(0-1)  T-2:22  A-150
HR NEW - Powell, S..
HR LU - Stewart.

Lander University 6, Newberry College 5 (Feb 03, 2007 at Greenwood, SC) (Game 2)
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Newberry College.... 103 010 0 -  5 11  4      (1-1)
Lander University... 103 200 X -  6  9  6      (1-1)
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Pitchers: Newberry College - Monette, S.. Lander University - Burdette.
Win-Burdette(1-0)  Loss-Monette, S.(0-1)  T-1:46  A-125
HR NEW - Lindler, C..