Baseball | 2/21/2010 9:16:42 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Monarchs finished the Methodist/Diamond Baseball Invitational on a high note Sunday night with a 9-0 shutout over Roanoke College.

Both teams were scoreless through the first two and a half innings, but the Monarchs took control in the bottom of the third with a five-run rally sparked by a lead-off double from freshman Brandon Thigpen. The Monarchs loaded the bases and took advantage of two walks and a two-RBI single from Shawn Lovette to go ahead 3-0. Brian Halpin followed up with a RBI single and Tyler Younger hit a sacrifice fly to boost the 5-0 lead.

Methodist picked up where they left off in the fourth and scored two runs on a single from Brian Inghram. Halpin scored on a wild pitch in the fifth after reaching on a walk and Brian Goodwin scored the Monarchs' final run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Lovette.

Roanoke rattled off 10 hits, but left nine runners on base as the Monarchs held the Maroon scoreless. Tre Britt picked up the win on the mound after pitching the first six innings with six strikeouts. Hunter Ennis, John Markley and Rusty White each added a scoreless inning to complete the shutout.

Inghram was 3-for-4 on the day with three RBI while Tripp Lancaster and Brian Goodwin added two hits a piece.

The Monarchs will travel to Guilford on Wednesday with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

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