Softball | 3/18/2012 6:08:00 PM

WINCHESTER, Va. - The Methodist softball team blasted Shenandoah 8-1 in the first game and outlasted the Hornets 5-4 in extra innings to earn the doubleheader sweep on Sunday.

Shenandoah (13-5, 4-2) scored first with an unearned run in the first, but the Monarchs came back and tied it in the third with a big two-out rally. Sarah Stapleton singled and moved to second on an error before scoring on Megan Lee's double to left field. Methodist (16-6, 6-0) broke open the floodgates in the fourth inning with three runs on a hit and three Shenandoah errors. The Monarchs took advantage of four walks along with Krista Zentner's double and a single from Ally Griffin to rattle off four runs and secure the 8-1 win.

Lee went 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI. Adams was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Jessica Farmer pitched the complete game for the Monarchs giving up just five hits with six strikeouts.

Both teams battled back and forth in the second game. The Monarchs went ahead 3-0 in the second inning with Stapleton and Adams picking up RBI. Shenandoah tied the game in the bottom of the third with three runs on three hits including a double and a triple. Methodist regained the lead in the fourth after a lead-off double by Marcy McKee. She moved to third on Erica Bradley's single and scored on Stapleton's fielder's choice.

Shenandoah forced extra innings with a clutch hit in the seventh after a lead-off walk, but the Monarchs bounced back in the eighth. Katie Byrd was placed on second and moved to third on Griffin's sacrifice. Bradley singled through the left side to score Byrd. It would be the only run Methodist needed as Kayla Malone struck out three batters in the bottom of the eighth to secure the 5-4 win.

Bradley finished 3-for-4 in the game while Adams was 2-for-4. Malone went eight innings in the circle to earn the win with seven strikeouts and seven hits.

Methodist will be back in action on Tuesday when they host N.C. Wesleyan at 4 p.m.

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