Baseball | 4/7/2011 2:56:33 PM

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Virginia Wesleyan outlasted five lead changes on Wednesday to upend the Monarchs 12-9. 

The Marlins took the early 2-0 lead with a run in the first and second innings, but Methodist battled back to score four runs in the fourth. Brandon Thigpen led off with a single followed by Trey Such and Brian Inghram. Matt Quick kept the rally going with a double before Tripp Lancaster drove in two runs with a double through the left side. Virginia Wesleyan came back with five runs in the bottom of the inning to regain a 7-4 lead.

The Monarchs rallied in the fifth with another lead-off single by Thigpen. Shawn Lovette had a two-RBI single on the way to helping Methodist score five runs and take the 9-7 advantage. Virginia Wesleyan tied the game with an unearned run in the fifth and a run in the sixth. The Monarchs offense fizzled as the Marlins went on to earn the 12-9 win with three runs on four hits in the seventh.

Thigpen finished 4-for-4 at the plate while Matt Quick went 3-for-5. The Monarchs used five different pitchers with Chris Perry taking the loss.

Methodist will be back in action on Saturday when they host Greensboro at 5 p.m.

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