Baseball | 3/1/2014 7:06:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DANVILLE, Va. - The Methodist baseball won both ends of an afternoon doubleheader at Averett on Saturday at Owen-Fulton Field. The game scores were 4-1 and 18-1, respectively.
 
In the conference opener for both teams, the Monarchs (7-2, 2-0 USA South) broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the eighth.
 
Alex Rodriguez opened the frame with a base hit, and the next batter, Steven Kirby, promptly reached base on a bunt single. Cody Molosky moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and the Cougars (3-6, 0-2 USA South) then elected to intentionally walk Chris Power to load the bases.
 
With the bases full and one out, Pete Wildeboer hit a two-run single up the middle to give Methodist a 3-1 lead, and Ray Lanners would later add a run-scoring single to plate Power.
 
Monarch starting pitcher Travis Johnson (2-0) was the beneficiary of this three-run inning as he earned the win with 7.0-plus innings pitched. He gave up six hits and one run, walked one and struck out four. Josh Ayers nailed down the victory with a two-inning save, his third. He gave up one hit and struck out one.
 
J.T. Crowder and Taylor Davis each had two base hits for Averett. Cody Moore (1-2) took the loss as he tossed 8.0 innings and gave up six hits and four runs. He walked one and struck out three.
 
The nightcap proved to be a decidedly higher scoring game as Methodist scored multiple runs in five separate innings, including a seven-run frame in the ninth.
 
Overall the Monarchs finished game two with 23 hits.
 
Stephen Nalls had four hits, three runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base for Methodist, and Kirby finished with four base hits and three runs scored. Molosky had four hits and drove in two runs. Wildeboer added three hits, including two doubles, and ended the doubleheader 4-for-9. Lucas Scott went 3-for-5 at the plate.
 
Darin Salter (1-0) picked up the win for the Monarchs with 6.0 scoreless innings and gave up five hits and one base on balls and struck out one.
 
Kevin Alvarez and Elisha Hill each had two-hit games for the Cougars. Taylor Davis (0-1) was tagged for the loss, and gave up 12 hits, eight runs and one walk in 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out four.
 
Methodist and Averett with wrap up their three-game series with a 1:00 pm matchup tomorrow.