FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Stephen Nalls drove in five runs and Chris Power was a perfect 5-for-5 as the Methodist baseball team erupted for 18 hits in a 15-5 win over Christopher Newport on Sunday evening at Armstrong-Shelley Field.
 
Methodist (2-1) blew a close game open with 13 runs over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and turned a 4-2 deficit into a 15-5 lead heading into the seventh. After taking an early 2-0 lead, the Monarchs found themselves trailing 4-2 after the Captains scored four in the top of the fourth inning, including Brandon Ginch's three-run double.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Matt Jack led off with a double, moved up to third on Pete Wildeboer's sacrifice bunt, and would score on an error by the Captains. Alex Dockery followed with a walk, and Nalls gave the Monarchs runners on the corners with a single to right. Colin Ford tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI groundout, and Power's single to right scored Nalls and gave MU a 5-4 lead.
 
Nalls added a three-run double as part of a four-run fifth inning, and MU continued to pour it on with six runs in the sixth inning. The Monarchs loaded the bases in the sixth and Ray Lanners beat out a double to right that scored Power and Alex Rodriguez and gave MU an 11-5 lead. Steven Kirby scored on a passed ball, and Nalls drove in two more with a two-run single through the left side. Lucas Scott capped the scoring with an RBI single.
 
Travis Johnson was the beneficiary of the Monarch offensive explosion. He started on the hill for the Green and Gold and picked up the win (1-0) after allowing five runs (2 ER) on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Tyler Hardee, Logan Raines and Ross Leggett pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit.
 
In addition to his five base hits, Power drew a walk, scored a pair of runs and drove in one. Nalls was 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Lanners was also 3-for-5 and had three RBI with a run scored. Wildeboer was 1-for-2 with a walk and scored twice, and Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
 
For CNU, Austin Kilbourne was 1-for-2 with a home run and two runs scored. Ginch was 1-of-3 with three RBI, and Connor Henderson finished 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
The Monarchs are back in action on Friday when they kick off a three-game set at Covenant beginning at 2:00 pm.