Baseball | 4/7/2012 5:03:00 PM

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Methodist took the early lead, but after N.C. Wesleyan tied the game at three, the Monarchs finished with the 6-5 win.

Methodist jumped on top early with two runs in the first inning. Trey Such drew a walk and moved to second on Tyler Younger's single. The Monarchs loaded the bases after Chris Power drew a walk and Dustin Brown was hit by a pitch to score Such. Steven Kirby reached on an error to score Younger for the 2-0 lead.

The Bishops came back with a run in the bottom of the first with their own bases loaded hit by pitch to cut the lead in half. Methodist went ahead 3-1 in the third with a RBI double from Brown after Power singled. N.C. Wesleyan tied it up at three with two runs in the fifth on four hits.

The Monarchs took advantage of a defensive error in the seventh to go ahead 6-3. With runners on second and third, Cody Molosky put down a bunt single that the pitcher threw away allowing both runners to score. David Lutz followed up with a single to score Molosky for the third run of the inning.

N.C. Wesleyan put together two doubles in the seventh and a single with two walks in the eighth to score a run in each and move within one at 6-5. The Monarchs loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but came up empty. The Bishops' Jake Alexander led off with a single in the bottom of the ninth and sacrificed him to second. Pat Laffin singled to right, but Methodist's Brandon Thigpen threw out Alexander at the plate to prevent the tying run. After the next batter flew out to left, Methodist secured the 6-5 win.

Such finished 2-f0r-3 and Molosky was 3-for-5.

Andrew Womble went five innings with six hits and six strikeouts. Josh Ayers pitched two innings of relief to earn the win. Rett Lee pitched the eighth and Rusty White finished it off to get the save.

Methodist will be back in action Thursday when the USA South Tournament kicks off in Burlington, N.C. Tournament seeding will be announced once conference play wraps up.

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