Baseball | 3/29/2009 9:47:44 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Methodist swept Greensboro 11-6 and 8-2 in USA South baseball action on Sunday moving the Monarchs into second place in the USA South standings, just a half game out of first.

The Monarchs found themselves trailing 6-0 early in game one. Tyler O'Neill hit a solo home run in the second and the Pride put together three hits for a run in the third. They managed four runs in the fourth after taking advantage of two Methodist errors. Methodist cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth after Tripp Lancaster led off with a triple to right center. Trey Such hit a two-run home run in the fifth to move the Monarchs within one run. Peter Yusckat led off with a single and scored the game-tying run before Dustin Proctor had a RBI-single to score Shawn Lovette and give MU the 7-6 lead in the sixth. Methodist added four runs in the seventh capped off by a two-RBI single from Mike Twichell. Methodist finished with the 11-6 win.

Brian Halpin led the Monarchs at the plate hitting 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Ryan Fasano pitched the first three and two thirds innings giving up two earned runs while Landon Jordan finished in relief to earn the win going five and a third without giving up a hit.  He struck out seven and walked three.

Methodist started strong in game two when Shawn Lovette hit the first Greensboro pitch over the fence in left field to give the Monarchs the 1-0 lead. Methodist added three runs in the second on a three out rally when Peter Yusckat reached on an error and Mike Twichell laid down the bunt single. Lovette came back to the plate and hit his second home run of the game on just four pitches to extend the lead to 4-0. The Pride scored a run in third on two hits, but with no outs and runners on first and second pitcher Michael Mahaffey caught a line drive and the Monarchs turned a triple play, their second in four games. Methodist added three runs in the fourth on two hits and two Pride errors to lead 7-1. Both teams finished with a run in the eighth inning for Methodist to close out with the 8-2 win.

Lovette hit 3-for-4 with five RBI while Tripp Lancaster was 3-for-5 in the game. Mahaffey pitched eight innings striking out seven to earn the win. Alex Sholar finished out in the ninth.

The Monarchs will travel to Randolph-Macon on Monday for a 4 pm game.

Box Score 1
Box Score 2