Baseball | 2/17/2013 8:51:00 PM

Box Score Fayetteville, N.C. –North Carolina Wesleyan College rode the back of a complete game by Hatteras Brooks en route to an 8-1 victory over Methodist University at Armstrong-Shelly Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Battling Bishops (4-5, 2-1 USA South) broke through with three runs in the second inning off Methodist (4-4, 2-4 USA South)starter Brandon Thigpen. Eight batters went to the plate during the frame where the Bishops would register three singles and two walks.

The Battling Bishops would add to that lead in the third inning when a single by catcher James Lovette drove in JJ Rodriguez to extend the lead to 4-0, which would be the end of the afternoon for Thigpen after the frame.  

The Monarchs would finally put a run on the scoreboard in the third when Will Buschmann scored on a single by Chris Power. Buschmann reached base to start the inning with a double, the only extra base hit of the game for Methodist.

Brooks (2-0) would continue to cruise allowing only three hits through the remainder of the game.
The Bishops would extend their lead in the eighth by scoring four runs off of Methodist reliever Reid Berry. Brooks would finish the game, including a perfect ninth inning to close the contest. The sophomore surrendered only six hits, no walks and three hit batsmen.

Thigpen (1-1) pitched 3.0 innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two.
Freshman Aaron O'Neil pitched four scoreless innings in relief for the Monarchs surrendering just four hits and two walks while striking out five.

The Bishops would record 14 hits on the afternoon, all singles, as Lovett led the way by going 4-for-4 with four RBIs.

Buschmann led the Monarchs by going 2-for-4 from the plate while Power, Steven Kirby, Roy Lanners and Cody Molosky each registered a single at the plate.

The Monarchs are back in action this Saturday with a doubleheader at Ferrum College starting at noon.