LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Methodist baseball team split its doubleheader with host Covenant on Saturday afternoon. After dropping game one 4-3, MU bounced back to mercy-rule the Scots, 15-1 in eight innings.

In the first game, Methodist (3-3, 1-2 USAS) had the lead all the way into the bottom of the ninth, until a two-run walk off homer by Andrew Beck, his second game-winning play of the weekend, lifted Covenant (5-1, 2-1 USAS) to a 4-3 victory over the Monarchs.

MU was first to get on the board in the top of the second inning. Colin Ford drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stephen Nalls. Davis Cass brought home Ford in the next at bat, singling to center field and giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead.

The next four innings were quiet for both teams, until Matt Jack stepped up to the plate in the top of the 6th, leading off with a homer to left field, putting the Green and Gold ahead 2-0.

Covenant evened the score in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting with back-to-back singles to left field by Scott Gillespie and Perry Rigby. MU's Josh Howard struck out the next Scot, but a base knock to center field by Alex Kerr, who then advanced to second on a Methodist error, would bring in Gillespie putting the scoreboard at 2-1 in the Monarch's favor. Jay Epperson entered the game as a pinch runner for Kerr, and was brought in by the next batter, Caleb Bloye, on a RBI single to right. With two outs, Bloye was moved to second on a single by Luke Harvey. After relieving starting pitcher Howard, Tyler Hardee stranded the tying run, forcing Andrew Beck to pop up to the infield, ending the inning with the score at 3-2.

In the ninth, after singling to right field, Forrest Hunter advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bloye, and then to third on a passed ball. Covenant claimed the win on the next at bat, when Beck sent his walk off two-run home run to left field, giving the Scots a 4-3 victory.

Hardee took the loss for the Monarchs, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing four hits and two runs after taking over on the mound for Howard, who allowed nine hits and two runs in the 6.0 innings he pitched.

Bloye grabbed the win for the Scots, pitching the final 3.0 innings and only giving up three hits and one run. Micah Mabe started for Covenant, allowing two earned runs and four hits.
Jack led the Monarchs, going 3-for-4 with one RBI while Cass hit 1-for-3 with the one RBI. Ford added one run and Pete Wildeboer had one hit and one run.

For Covenant, Gillespie went 2-for-4 with one run and Beck recorded one hit and two RBI. Bloye added two hits and one RBI.
 
In the second game, Methodist rallied back from defeat to score nine runs in two innings to force a mercy rule and end the game in the top of the 8th with a final score of 15-1.

Ahead 5-0 in the top of the 7th, the Monarchs went on to tally seven runs in one frame. Lucas Scott, Nalls, Cass, and Wildeboer all registered RBI's before Cody Molosky reached on a fielding error with the bases loaded, bringing in Cass from third base to add an unearned run to the board, giving Methodist a 10-1 advantage. A second fielding error on the next play brought home Pete Wildeboer for another unearned run. The inning ended with the next at bat when Alex Rodriguez singled to left field and Molosky was thrown out at third, but not before Hardee reached the plate to put the Monarchs ahead 12-1.

The Monarchs drew two back-to-back walks in the top of the 8th inning, putting Nalls and Ray Lanners on base. The two Monarchs advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, and with two outs, Wildeboer singled to left center, bringing home Lanners. Hardee capped Methodist's scoring on the next at bat, hammering a three-base hit to left center, bringing home Wildeboer and Nalls, giving Methodist a 15-1 advantage.

Michael Inman struck out two Scots in the bottom of the 8th to end the game, leaving one on base.

Overall, the Monarchs finished the game with 19 hits. Rodriguez went 4-for-5 for the game, tallying one RBI, and Wildeboer finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Hardee had two hits, including one triple, and drove in two runs. Molosky added two hits with one double two RBI.

For Covenant, Gillespie went 2-for-3, recording the lone run of the game with a home run to left center field in the bottom of the 1st. Rigby and Harvey each added one hit.
Travis Johnson walked away with the win for the Green and Gold, pitching six innings and only giving up four hits and one run, adding seven strikeouts. Daniel Royer and Inman each pitched an inning for MU, and Inman registered two strikeouts.

Jonah Paul was saddled with the loss for Covenant, pitching for 3.2 innings and giving up five runs and eight hits. Covenant, desperate for change, put in four different pitchers in to relieve Paul. Spencer Smith pitched 2.2 innings and allowed four runs and six hits, Matthew Fultz came in for 0.2 innings and gave up three runs and three hits. Rigby pitched for 0.2 innings as well, and let three runs score and gave up two hits. Sam Moore finished on the mound for Covenant, facing just one batter.

The Monarchs return to Armstrong-Shelley field on Friday to begin a three-day home series with the Panthers of Ferrum College. The first game begins at 5 pm.
 
--