GREENWOOD, S.C. --- The Tusculum baseball team exploded for five runs in the fifth inning and senior Tyler Collins pitched seven strong innings en route to a 6-2 non-conference victory over Lander University Wednesday afternoon at Legion Field.

Tusculum improves to 31-11 overall, while Lander moves to 23-18. The Pioneers have won five of their last six games and 12 of 14. TC also improved its road record to 14-3 on the year.

Collins (3-1), who was making his first mound start since February, recorded seven strikeouts, allowed eight hits and walked one in the victory, the 14th of his career.

Lander starter Scott Elitzky (2-2) suffered the loss, striking out five, walking five and allowing six earned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings.

The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Erik Lunde tripled down the right line then scored on Jeff May's run-scoring single to centerfield.

The Pioneers tied the game at 1-1 in fourth after Trey Drewery walked, advanced to third on Payden Houser's double to left center, and went home on Nate Reid's sacrifice fly.

The Pioneers tallied five more runs in the fifth to go up 6-1. Branfy Arias stroked a two-run double, while Cody Coffman and Trey Drewery both had RBI singles and Aaron Guinn went home on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.

Tusculum finished with seven hits, including Houser's 2-for-3 performance. For Lander, Patrick Grady and Joe Tebaldi both went 2-for-4.

The Pioneers return to action this weekend for a three-game South Atlantic Conference series at 15th-ranked Catawba College. The series begins Friday night with a 7 p.m. contest.

- TC -