Baseball | 4/22/2011 7:35:00 PM

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Monarchs took the early lead and held on to finish with the 7-2 win over Emory University.

Methodist scored the first three runs of the game after breaking the game open in the fifth inning. Sergio Davis drew the lead-off walk and Brandon Thigpen singled up the middle. Trey Such laid down the sacrifice bunt and reached on a throwing error allowing Davis to score and Thigpen moved to third. Thigpen was picked off, but Such moved to third on a double by Brian Inghram. Chris Perry followed up with a double of his own to score both Such and Inghram for the 3-0 lead.

Emory countered with an unearned run in the fifth inning, but the Monarchs came right back with three runs in the top of the sixth. Dustin Brown singled and Tripp Lancaster drew the walk. Davis grounded out to advance both runners and Thigpen was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs. The Eagles walked Such to score Brown and Shawn Lovette hit a two-RBI single to give Methodist the 6-1 lead.

Methodist added an insurance run in the ninth after Perry singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brown. Emory added an unearned run, but the Monarchs finished with the 7-2 win.

Brown led the team at the plate hitting 2-for-3. Perry and Matt Quick were 2-for-4 and Thigpen was 1-for-2.

Perry pitched six innings for the Monarchs scattering four hits with eight strikeouts. Andrew Womble, Josh Ayers and Rusty White each pitched an inning of relief.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Saturday against Emory at 2 p.m.

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