Baseball | 4/6/2014 7:39:00 PM

Box Score ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- The Methodist baseball team lost at N.C. Wesleyan, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series.
 
After trailing the Battling Bishops (11-18, 8-12 USA South) by a 3-0 margin through four complete innings, the Monarchs (17-11, 11-7 USA South) strung together a combined four runs in the fifth and sixth to assume a 4-3 edge.
 
Chris Power drove Methodist's first run with an RBI double down the right field line to plate Tyler Hardee in the fifth and chip at N.C. Wesleyan's lead. In their subsequent turn to hit in the sixth, the Monarchs scored three times to go ahead, 4-3. Ray Lanners drew a one-out walk, and Josh Howard followed with a single. Pinch-hitter Lucas Scott hit a run-scoring single to drive in Lanners and move Howard all the way to third.
 
Following a Bishops fielding error on a Steven Kirby sacrifice bunt that drove in Howard, Methodist pinch-hitter Alex Rodriguez would bring home the Monarchs' final run with a sacrifice fly to right for the tiebreaking tally that put the Methodist in the lead.
 
Still holding a slim 4-3 edge in the bottom of the ninth, the Monarchs had Mikie Morrison on the mound. Bishops shortstop Alexis Rodriguez reached base on a leadoff hit-by-pitch, and Hayden Williams singled to left to put two runners on base with none out. To end the game, James Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt to Morrison, and the Methodist reliever's throw was off target and allowed the tying and winning runs to cross the plate.
 
Power went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI for the Monarchs, and Hardee also had a pair of bases hits, including a double, to go along with a steal. Morrison (1-1) took the loss after pitching 2.2 innings. He gave up two runs (0 ER) on a hit and three walks and struck out two.
 
Luis Palencia had two hits, two RBI and a stolen base for N.C. Wesleyan, and Williams went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Matthew Rhyne (2-1) threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win for the Bishops.
 
The Monarchs play next at the USA South Spring Sports Festival during the middle of the week. They will square off against Covenant in a neutral-site series held in Rocky Mount, N.C. Game one is scheduled for Thursday at 7:00 pm.