GREENWOOD, SC – Haven Pesce hit a solo walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth to lift the third-seeded Lander Bearcats past the sixth-seeded USC Aiken Pacers 7-6 in the first game of the PBC Softball Tournament in Greenwood. With that win, Lander advances to the semifinals on Sunday where they will face either Columbus State or Flagler.

Pesce’s heroics came after USC Aiken completed a miraculous comeback of their own, scoring five runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie game at six each. The first three batters of that inning reached safely with Mallory Shaver leading off with a single followed by Holly Daum being hit by a pitch and Taylor Butts reaching on a fielding error to load the bases.

Lauren Wexler then singled to drive in a pair, cutting the lead to 6-3. She was followed two batters later by Emily Ayers who took the second pitch she saw over the left field fence to knot the score at six.

The two teams were scoreless through the first four innings until Butts hit a solo homer for USCA.

Lander answered with six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Shannon Antonini started things off with a two-run double, followed by a single from Abbie Behe to load the bases. Olivia Veidt drove in the third run with a fielder’s choice that still left the bases loaded, bringing Pesce to the plate. Her drive to the outfield was misplayed, allowing three runs to score and a 6-1 Lander lead.

Liz Gollin (13-3) picked up the win for Lander with three innings of relief work. Lakyn Phillips (14-10) took the loss for USC Aiken.

Lander will take the field on Sunday at 12:30 pm in the semifinal. The championship game will be on Sunday at 3:00 pm.