Baseball | 3/31/2012 10:32:00 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Methodist and Ferrum baseball were delayed on Saturday, but there was still a great turnout for the celebration of head coach Tom Austin's 1,000th win last weekend. The Monarchs kept the celebration going as they earned a 7-3 win over the Panthers.

Ferrum (19-9, 5-4) scored first with a run in the fifth inning. Methodist (16-15, 3-6) came back and rallied in the bottom of the fifth to take control. Dustin Brown and Cody Molosky singled and Steven Kirby followed up with a single that allowed Brown to score. Matt Quick reached on a fielder's choice where Molosky scored before Kirby took advantage of an error to score as well. After a groundout and walk, Brandon Thigpen hit a huge double to the gap in left center to score Quick for the 4-1 lead.

The Panthers cut the lead to one in the eighth with two runs on three hits, but the Monarchs got out of the jam and tacked on three runs of their own. Methodist hit three straight to right field sparked by a solo home run from Tyler Younger. Chris Power and Brown singled and then stole second and third just in time for Kirby's two-RBI single up the middle.

Kirby finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and Brown was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Chris Perry went eight innings for the win allowing eight hits with 13 strikeouts. Rusty White finished the game in relief.

There were a number of special guests on hand for Austin's pre-game ceremony. Methodist President Dr. Ben Hancock along with current Vice President for Business Affairs and former Athletic Director Gene Clayton presented gifts on behalf of the university.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Sunday when they host Ferrum for the second game of the series at 2 p.m.

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