Softball | 4/1/2014 10:02:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FERRUM, Va. -- The Methodist softball team earned a split at Ferrum on Tuesday afternoon. The Monarchs claimed the opener, 12-11, and the Panthers won the nightcap, 5-2.
 
In game one, Methodist charged out to a 6-0 through four-and-a-half innings. Already ahead by three runs in the top of the fifth, the Monarchs added three more via a Marcy McKee RBI single and later a two-run base hit by Kirsten Markow. The Panthers, however, responded with a seven-run fifth to go ahead by a 7-6 margin.
 
Ferrum scored five runs with two outs in that frame, including a three-run homer by Callie O'Brien, to cap the offensive display. The Monarchs would answer with six runs in their half of the sixth to reclaim the lead, 12-7. Natalie High hit a two-run single, McKee drove in a pair with a double and Sarah Stapleton and Lindsay Tippett each tacked on run-scoring singles.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, plated four runs to close the gap to 12-11, but Jordan Pietrolaj induced a game-ending lineout by Karly Thompson to right field with two runners on to close out the victory.
 
High had three hits, two RBI and scored twice for Methodist, which ended the opener with 19 base hits overall. Krista Zentner went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and Ally Griffin had three hits and scored twice. McKee drove in three runs, and Tippett finished with three singles. Pietrolaj (2-1) earned the win in relief of Stapleton. The relief pitcher threw 1.2 innings and gave up four runs (3 ER) on two hits and three walks. She struck out one.
 
For the Panthers, Wallace drove in three on that home run, and Alicia Eichenlaub and Thompson had two base hits apiece. Relief pitcher Aiyana Lew (5-2) took the defeat as she tossed 1.1 innings. She surrendered seven runs on nine hits.
 
Game two belonged to Ferrum (16-10, 11-7 USA South) as it bounced back to top the Monarchs (9-24, 6-14 USA South) by a 5-2 margin.
 
The Panthers led by a 2-0 margin through three complete before Methodist got on the board courtesy of Zentner sacrifice fly in the fourth. Ferrum scored three times to extend its edge to 5-1 in the fourth as Amanda Roberts singled in two runs, and Chloe Brzycki hit an RBI single. The last run of the day would score in the Monarchs' half of the sixth as Tippett scored an unearned run.
 
Kelsey Harrington batted 2-for-3 with a double and scored once for Methodist, and Stapleton went 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Game two starter Emily Hester (1-3) was saddled with the loss as she went 2.0 innings. She allowed two runs on three hits and two walks.
 
Brzycki had two hits, drove in a pair of runs and stole a base for the Panthers, and Eichenlaub singled twice with an RBI and a run scored. Roberts (8-2) pitched a complete-game effort as she tossed 7.0 innings. She gave up two runs (1 ER) on five hits and walked one. She struck out four.
 
The Monarchs play next on Saturday at LaGrange. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 pm in LaGrange, Ga.