Softball | 3/31/2012 10:23:00 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Methodist softball team picked up the sweep over Averett University with two come from behind wins on Saturday afternoon at 3-2 and 2-1. The day started with a memorable celebration of Military Appreciation Day. A number of veterans were recognized for their service and three model rockets were shot into the air.

The first five innings were scoreless in game one before Averett got on the board in the sixth. Jessica Farmer struck out Emily Atkinson, but Atkinson reached on a wild pitch to start the rally. A big double down the left field line allowed Atkinson's pinch runner to score for the 1-0 lead. Lindsay Tippett sparked a seventh inning rally for the Monarchs with a single back to the pitcher. Annie Zaremski pinch ran, but was out on a fielder's choice bunt by Mandi Wall. Ashley Shingleton pinch ran for Wall and moved to second on an illegal pitch. Shingleton moved to third on a groundout  and scored on Ally Griffin's single through the left side to tie the game. Unable to break the tie in the seventh, the game went to extra innings and Averett scored a run to go ahead 2-1. Erica Bradley was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth before Marcy McKee singled to move her to third. Katie Byrd singled to score Bradley and Tippett reached on an error to load the bases. Kirsten Markow finished with the clutch hit to left field for McKee to score the game-winning run.

Megan Lee was 2-for-3 in the game and Griffin finished 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter. Bradley finished 1-for-2. Jessica Farmer pitched the complete game scattering six hits with nine strikeouts for the win.

In the second game, Averett took the early lead in the third inning on an unearned run. It came down to the seventh inning again as the Monarchs were still trailing 1-0. McKee set the tone with a lead-off double and Zaremski came back out to pinch run. Byrd laid down the perfect bunt single back to the pitcher and Zaremski moved to third. Tippett singled through the right side to score Zaremski for the game-tying run. The Cougars retired the next two batters, but Jordan Adams finished with the walk-off RBI single to score Byrd from second.

Adams finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI. Byrd was 2-for-3. Kayla Malone pitched the complete game win giving up eight hits with three strikeouts.

With the sweep, Methodist head coach Ron Simpson has won 400 games in his tenure with the Monarchs. Methodist will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to Guilford College for a rescheduled game from earlier this season.

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