ATLANTA, Ga. – The Methodist baseball team earned a split of a doubleheader with 2014 national runners-up Emory University on Saturday afternoon at Chappell Park. The Monarchs routed the Eagles 20-1 in the opener, and fell 10-2 in the nightcap.
In the first game, Methodist (6-4) gained an early two-run advantage over the third-ranked (NCBWA/D3Baseball.com) Eagles in the top of the first inning. Chris Power began the frame with a double to right center field and was advanced to third on a wild pitch. MU had runners on the corners after Alex Rodriguez drew a walk, and a sacrifice bunt by Steven Kirby scored Power and advanced Rodriguez to second. A throwing error, the first of six, by Emory's (5-3) first baseman allowed Rodriguez to make it home, putting the scoreboard at 2-0 in Methodist's favor.
Methodist extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the second inning. After a ground out by Pete Wildeboer, Lucas Scott drew a walk and was advanced to third on a single by Stephen Nalls. Cody Molosky drove Scott home with a single to left field, and after a walk by Power, Rodriguez scored Nalls after reaching on a fielder's choice to give Methodist a 4-0 advantage.
The Monarchs tacked on two more runs in the third, after loading the bases three walks by Emory's starting pitcher, Connor Dillman. Nalls sent a sacrifice fly out to right field to score Kirby, and two batters later, Power made the score 7-0 with a base knock to right to drive Wildeboer home.
Emory was able to make it on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Trailing 7-0, Dylan Eisner reached on a fielder's choice, and the Monarchs were able to cut David Coble at third, who walked on the previous at bat. After stealing second, Eisner was brought home on an RBI single by Brett Lake, to put the score at 7-1. Lake was caught stealing on the next play, ending the inning.
Methodist tallied eight of its 20 runs in the top of the eighth inning. Matt Jack brought in the 12th Monarch run with a single to right center before a passed ball advanced him to second, allowing Kirby to score after reaching on a single through the left side. MU loaded the bases with a Scott single to right field, following Adam Gunn getting walked. A base knock by Nalls allowed Jack to score, and three consecutive walks gave Methodist three easy runs and a 17-1 lead. On his second at bat in of the inning, Kirby doubled to left field, bringing in two runs and Jack followed with a single to tack on one more, putting Methodist ahead 20-1.
Josh Howard (2-0) took the mound for the Monarchs and pitched a gem, holding the Eagles to just five hits in 5.0 innings and allowing one run to grab the win. Michael Inman took over for Howard in the sixth, and allowed only one hit in 2.0 innings. Logan Haines and Greg Johnson also saw time on the mound for Methodist, pitching an inning apiece with Haines giving up no hits and Johnson only allowing one.
Dillman (2-1) was handed the loss for Emory, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up seven runs on four hits.
Nalls finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored and Kirby was 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs, adding two walks. Power was 2-for-5 with three RBI and Jack was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Rodriguez and Cody Molosky added a pair of RBI.
The Monarchs held a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning of the night cap, only to come up short, 10-2, to split the twinbill.
Rodriguez reached on a single to right field and was moved to second on a balk by Emory's Jasckson Weeg. A double by Kirby down the left field line would score Rodriguez to put MU ahead 1-0 but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.
In the second half of the frame, Emory evened the game 1-1 with a double to center by Lake to bring Coble, who doubled two batters prior, home.
Nalls led the second inning off with a single to right field and advanced to second after Davis Cass popped up to the pitcher. A double by Colin Ford pushed Nalls to third, but it was a sacrifice bunt by Alex Dockery that scored Nalls and gave MU the lead once more, 2-1, and its final run of the game.
Emory exploded in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs on RBI by Coble, Eisner, Lake, and Phillip Maldari, and gaining a 6-2 advantage.
The Eagles' pitching was critical to their win. Starting pitcher, Weeg (3-0), tossed for 7.0 innings and allowed only two runs on eight hits and added four strikeouts. Kyle Monk entered in the seventh inning, allowing only one hit in the 2.0 innings on the mound.
Travis Johnson (2-1) picked up his first loss of the 2015 season, giving up six runs and seven hits in 1.2 innings. Methodist replaced Johnson with Ross Leggett in the second inning, and he allowed one run and one hit. Aaron O'Neil saw time on the mound for 0.2 innings, and gave up two runs and four hits. Daniel Royer and Tyler Hardee were also put in for relief, pitching 1.1 and 1.0 innings, respectively, with Royer allowing no runs and one hit and Hardee giving up one run and three hits.
Nalls was 2-for-3 in the second game, adding one run scored and Jack finished 2-for-4. Kirby and Dockery tallied an RBI apiece.
Lake was 3-for-5 with four RBI and three scored runs and Maldari was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
The Monarchs return to home field advantage on Wednesday as they host Eastern University at 4 pm.
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