Baseball | 4/14/2012 8:13:00 PM

BURLINGTON, N.C. - Methodist held the 3-1 lead early, but Averett bounced back to earn the 6-4 win to eliminate the Monarchs from the USA South Tournament on Saturday.

The Cougars scored first with two hits in the first inning to lead 1-0. Methodist responded in the second when Dustin Brown led off with a double to left. Chris Power reached on an error to move Brown to third. Steven Kirby doubled to score Brown and David Lutz's sacrifice fly scored Power. Cody Molosky added his second hit of the game with a single through the left side to score Kirby and give the Monarchs the 3-1 advantage.

Averett came back with three runs in the fourth capitalizing on three hits and an error to regain the 4-3 lead. The Cougars added a run in the sixth and the seventh to go ahead 6-3. Methodist looked to rally in the eighth after Brandon Thigpen was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Thigpen scored as Tyler Younger reachd on an error. Averett got out of the inning without further damage and after Molosky reached on an error in the ninth, shut down the Monarchs to secure the 6-4 win.

Molosky finished 3-for-5 at the plate while Thigpen was 1-for-2 and Brown went 1-for-3.

Rett Lee went six innings on the mound scattering eight hits with seven strikeouts. Michael Inman pitched one inning of relief and Rusty White finished with two innings of work.

Methodist was knocked out of the double elimination tournament, but has five regular season games remaining. They will be back in action on Tuesday at Hampden-Sydney College.

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