Baseball | 2/15/2014 8:18:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Methodist baseball team came up short against Lynchburg, 4-3, on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Armstrong-Shield Field in the day's second game of an abbreviated Methodist Diamond Classic.
 
The Hornets (4-0) struck first as they took advantage of a Tyler Hardee error at third base. With runners on the corners and one out, Patrick Harris plated Robert Tomasulo with a run-scoring single off Methodist starter Rett Lee to give Lynchburg a 1-0 edge.
 
The Monarchs (2-1) responded with an unearned in the second as a swinging strikeout by Hardee was coupled with a wild pitch, allowing Matt Jack to score from third base and tie the matchup, 1-1. Two innings later, Methodist claimed the lead on Hardee's RBI single that brought Jack across the plate for a 2-1 lead.
 
With the Monarchs now ahead by a slim one-run margin, Lee saw his quest for his first pitching victory of 2014 came unraveled in the sixth. Lincoln Evans began the frame by reaching base on a throwing error by Hardee, and Joe Rogers hit a RBI single to knot the game up, 2-2, and end Lee's day on the mound.
 
Pitching in relief of Lee, Methodist's Travis Johnson gave up a single to Dustin Arrowood, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Johnson threw two wild pitches to the next batter, Drew Taylor, the second of which allowed Rogers to score the tie-breaking run. Later in the inning, Jake Tanner brought home another run with a sacrifice fly to increase the Hornets' lead to two runs, 4-2.
 
The Monarchs pushed across a final run in their last time to bat, tallying one via a Josh Howard RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on the corners, two outs and Methodist trailing by a 4-3 margin, Lynchburg's Colton Steber retired Steven Kirby on a foulout to right to seal the win.
 
Chris Power had three singles for the Monarchs, and Stephen Nalls added a pair of base hits. Jack scored two runs and walked twice. Lee (0-1) was tagged with the loss after going five-plus innings, allowing six hits, three runs and striking out seven.
 
Hornets' starting pitcher Zac Patrick (1-0) earned the victory with six innings of two-run ball and struck out five. Steber earned the save by pitching the final three frames. He allowed five hits and one run and fanned four.
 
Methodist will play tomorrow afternoon against Christopher Newport. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.