FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Josh Howard pitched 6.0 strong innings and the Methodist baseball team took advantage of nine Lynchburg errors in defeating the Hornets, 8-2, on Saturday afternoon at Armstrong-Shelley Field.
 
Howard picked up his first win of the season (1-0) as he allowed two runs (1 ER) on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Nick Norton, Tyler Hardee and Aaron O'Neil combined to throw 3.0 scoreless inning of relief as Methodist improved to 1-1 on the season. Lynchburg slipped to 0-2 with the loss.
 
The two teams traded runs over the game's first three innings, leaving the score at 2-2 as MU came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cody Molosky reached on an error to lead off the inning, and another error by the Hornets allowed Stephen Nalls to reach base and Molosky to advance to third base. Davis Cass attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the Hornets third error of the inning put Cass on base, moved Nall up to third and scored Molosky as the Monarchs took a 3-2 lead. Chris Power followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop that scored Nalls and made it 4-2 before a line drive double play ended the inning.
 
Methodist tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning as Lucas Scott drove in Steven Kirby with an RBI single, and Molosky's sacrifice bunt plated Hardee for a 6-2 lead. Power stole home in the sixth inning, and had an RBI single in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.
 
The nine errors committed by Lynchburg led to just two of MU's runs being earned. Brandon Miller started on the mound for LC and was tagged with the loss. He surrendered six runs (1 ER) on five hits with a strikeout in 5.0 innings.
 
Methodist was led at the plate by Power, who finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Kirby was 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Cass was also 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
For Lynchburg, Jonathan Munn was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, and Joe Tomasulo finished 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.
 
The Monarchs will wrap up the Methodist Diamond Invitational on Sunday when they host Christopher Newport at 3:30 pm.