Baseball | 3/7/2012 12:32:00 AM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Monarchs were down early, but clawed their way to an 8-7 win over Emory & Henry and used clutch hitting to cruise past Penn State Abington 9-2.

Emory & Henry (3-8) scored four runs in the second inning on two hits and three defensive errors. The Monarchs trimmed the lead to three in the bottom of the inning. Matt Jack drew a walk and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on Steven Kirby's sacrifice fly. Methodist cut the lead to one in the fifth with singles from Dustin Brown and Cody Molosky before Thigpen hit a two-RBI single to right field. The Wasps strung together four hits in the sixth to regain a four run lead at 7-3.

Thigpen hit his fourth homerun of the year with a solo shot in the seventh, but the Monarchs were still down 7-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Cody Molosky drew the leadoff walk and Trey Such doubled to left center to score Molosky. Thigpen grounded out moving Such to third and Josh Tulledge came onto pinch run. Tyler Younger tried to get the sacrifice fly for Tulledge to come home, but it was too short bringing Chris Power to the plate with two outs. The first pitch was in the dirt and got past the catcher allowing Tulledge to score the game-tying run. The game went to extra innings and Methodist pitcher Josh Ayers retired the first three batters with a foul out and two strikeouts giving Methodist the chance to win it.

Kirby singled through the right side and moved to second on a failed pickoff. Brown was hit by a pitch to set up runners on first and second. Matt Quick found a gap through the left side of the infield to single and allow Kirby to score the game-winning run.

Thigpen was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Brown went 2-for-4 and Quick was 2-for-6. Michael Inman threw six innings with four strikeouts. Rusty White pitched three innings of relief before Ayers earned the win.

In the final game of the day, Methodist struck early and often to earn the 9-2 win. Quick had the leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout and stole third before scoring on Thigpen's RBI single. The Nittany Lions countered with a run in the top of the second on three hits, but the Monarchs regained the lead in the fourth. Younger singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on Brown's sacrifice. Chris Power grounded out allowing Younger to score. Methodist added three runs in the fifth. David Lutz singled and Quick reached on an error with runners advancing to second and third when Such was intentionally walked. Tyler Younger hit a triple perfectly down the right field line to score all three and give Methodist the 5-1 advantage.

Molosky had a two-RBI single in the sixth to cushion the lead before Penn State Abington rallied for a run in the eighth. The Monarchs came right back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth on RBI from Quick and Thigpen to finish with the 9-2 win.

Thigpen went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Younger was 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Josh Clarke pitched five innings scattering six hits and striking out four for the win. Reid Berry, Greg Scassera and Ross Leggett finished in relief.

Methodist will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Emory & Henry in a rematch at 4 p.m.

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