Baseball | 3/23/2011 7:28:38 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Methodist baseball team took the early lead and powered past No. 16 Tufts on Wednesday with a 12-2 win.

The Monarchs' bats came through with 12 hits for 12 runs including three home runs. After two and a half scoreless innings, Methodist loaded the bases in the third and Brandon Thigpen tripled to right center. Shawn Lovette followed up with a RBI single to score Thigpen and give the Monarchs the 4-0 lead.

Tufts capitalized on a lead-off walk in the fourth to get on the board, but Methodist came back with two home runs in the fifth by Trey Such and Brian Inghram. Tripp Lancaster drew the walk in the sixth and stole second and third before scoring on Sergio Davis' single. Such walked and Thigpen hit the third home run of the day to give Methodist the 9-1 lead. Methodist took advantage of two defensive errors in the seventh on top of hits from Tyler Younger, Dustin Brown and Lancaster to go ahead 12-1. Tufts added a run in the eighth, but the Monarchs finished with the 12-2 win.

Thigpen finished 2-for-4 at the plate with five RBI. Davis and Lovette were also 2-for-4.

The Monarchs pitched by committee with eight pitchers spending time on the mound. Michael Judge picked up his fifth win of the year pitching two scoreless innings.

Methodist will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Ferrum for the first of a two-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.

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