Baseball | 2/25/2013 5:42:00 PM

Box Score FERRUM, Va. -- Jeffery Swoope's RBI base hit in the bottom of the ninth inning broke a 2-2 tie and lifted Ferrum over the Methodist baseball team, 3-2, on Monday afternoon at Panther field.
 
The Monarchs, looking to sweep the three-game series after taking both games of a doubleheader yesterday, had tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning before Swoope's game-winning single in the ninth.
 
The Panthers (6-7, 3-6 USA South) had taken a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning after scoring a single runs in both the first and seventh frames before MU (6-5, 4-5 USA South) rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Steven Kirby led off the inning with a single to third and Chris Power followed with a base hit to right with Kirby moving up to second base on the play. Tyler Younger then sacrificed both runners into scoring position and Brandon Thigpen doubled to drive in Kirby and Power and tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Monarchs were primed to take the lead as Ray Lanners was hit by a pitch following Thigpen's double, giving Methodist two runners on with just one out, but Justin Puentes induced a 6-4-3 double play from Stephen Nalls to escape the jam.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Justin Cox hit a one-out triple to right and Swoope immediately followed with the game-winning single to right.
 
Aaron O'Neill started for the Monarchs and allowed just one run on six hits and a pair of walks with one strikeout in 6.0 innings. Michael Judge took the loss in relief. He gave up two runs (1 ER) on four hits with a strikeout in 2.1 innings.
 
Tyler Easterly started for Ferrum and did not factor in the decision after allowing tossing 7.0 shutout innings. He allowed just six hits and two walks while striking out three. Puentes picked up the win despite allowing two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings.
 
Kirby and Power were both 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Monarchs. Thigpen finished 1-for-3 with a walk and the two runs driven in and David Lutz was 1-for-3 with a walk as well.
 
Cox finished 3-for-4with a pair of runs scored for the Panthers. Swoope, Eddie McGrath and Wes Walker each added a pair of base hits in the contest.
 
The Monarchs are schedule to return to action on Tuesday when they host Immaculata at 6:00 pm.