Softball | 3/16/2013 6:32:00 PM

FERRUM, Va. -- Jessica Farmer threw a five-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory as the Methodist softball team earned a split of a doubleheader at Ferrum on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers rallied for a 7-4 win in game two.
 
In the opener, Farmer limited the Panthers to just five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in helping MU to the 1-0 win. Ferrum threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on first and second with just one out. However, Farmer induced a fielder's choice for the second out and then got a line drive out to end the game.
 
The Monarchs scored the game's only run in the sixth inning when after Jordan Adams drew a leadoff walk, Lindsay Tippett reached on an error, advancing all the way to second while Adams scampered home with what would be the game-winning run.

Adams, Tippett and Katie Byrd all finished 1-for-3 for the Monarchs as Kaitlyn Culler nearly matche Farmer's effort in the circle for the Panthers.
 
Culler allowed just four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Emily Taylor pitched the final two innings for Ferrum. She did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out one.
 
In the nightcap, the Monarchs took an early 4-0 lead only to see Ferrum score seven unanswered runs, including five in the bottom of the sixth, to claim a 7-4 win.
 
Byrd gave the Monarchs a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI single that scored Sarah Stapleton. Ally Griffin then singled and after a Panther error in the field, both Byrd and Tippett came around to score to a 3-0 lead. Tippett made it 4-0 in favor of the Monarchs when she singled in Heather Williams in the fourth inning.
 
Ferrum began clawing back into the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Shelbie Hall doubled home Rachel Shumaker for the Panthers' first run and she would come around to score after the Monarchs misplayed a ball off the bat of Sadie Wallace to make it 4-2.
 
In the sixth, Wallace again brought in Hall, this time with a double to make it 4-3. A Kylene Culler RBI double tied the game at 4-4. Kylene Culler scored on XXX Thompson's RBI single to give FC its first lead at 5-4 and Kaitlyn Culler made it 6-4 with an RBI single of her own and Shumaker capped the scoring with an RBI triple to make it 7-4.
 
Brittany Miller started for MU and earned a no decision. She allowed two runs (1 ER) on four hits with a strikeout in 4.0 innings. Jessica Phelps took the loss, surrendering four runs on five hits in 0.2 innings.
 
Shumaker earned the win, giving up four runs (2 ER) on nine hits and two walks in 7.0 innings.
 
Tippett finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Byrd added two hits in three at bats with an RBI and a run scored. Ally Griffin finished 2-for-4 with two runs driven in.
 
Hall was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, Shumaker finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Karly Thompson finished 2-for-2 and drove in a run while scoring once.
 
The Monarchs are back in action in a doubleheader at Maryville tomorrow.