Monarchs Fall to No. 1 Shenandoah

Shawn Lovette was 3-for-4 at the plate

David Conner II

Baseball | 4/17/2011 3:15:00 PM

BURLINGTON, N.C. - Top seed Shenandoah University battled back from a five-run deficit and held on to beat No. 3 seed Methodist University 10-7 in a USA South Conference Tournament elimination game on Sunday at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Shenandoah (31-3) advanced to the championship game against No. 2 seed Christopher Newport University 30 minutes after knocking off Methodist (27-13). If the Hornets defeat CNU, the two would play a second game to decide the champion.

Down 6-1, Shenandoah's offense, which had been held in check the first four innings, came alive in the fifth inning as the Hornets closed the gap to 6-5 with a four-run inning. Things continued to click for Shenandoah an inning later. A Methodist error allowed the Hornets to tie the game and Brashears gave them their first lead, 8-6, with a two-run bomb to left field.

Shenandoah allowed just one more run the rest of the way to earn a rematch with Christopher Newport, who handed the Hornets their only loss in the double-elimination tournament.

Yet, early on, it appeared as if Methodist was poised to pull the upset. A day after clubbing three home runs against Averett, Methodist continued to benefit from the long ball. Monarchs catcher Trey Such crushed a two-run blast — his third home run in four at-bats spanning two games — in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Shawn Lovette immediately followed with a solo homer to right field to give Methodist a 3-0 lead.

Shenandoah responded in the top of the second with a solo home run, but the Hornets gave the run right back. Methodist's Tyler Younger singled, stole second and scored on Tripp Lancaster's lined single over the shortstop's head.

The Monarchs increased their lead to 6-1 thanks to a Shenandoah mishap in the fourth inning. Methodist second baseman Dustin Brown doubled down the left field line with two outs, and a Shenandoah throwing error allowed him to score and kept the inning alive. Lancaster, who reached on the error and advanced to second, came home on Sergio Davis's RBI single to right field to push Methodist's lead to five.

Things, however, fell apart soon after for Methodist soon. Shenandoah scored nine runs over the next four innings to pull away.

Jeff Stanek picked up the win in two innings of relief, and Kyle Scallion earned the save. Tre' Britt pitched 4.2 innings scattering nine hits with two strikeouts. Rett Lee, Michael Judge and Rusty White finished in relief.

For Methodist, Sergio Davis and Lovette both went 3-for-4.

Trey Such and Tripp Lancaster were both recognized as members of the All-Tournament Team.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Emory.

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