FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist baseball team showed its offensive strength on Sunday, winning a pair of games over fellow USA South member William Peace. With the wins, MU improves to 12-7 on the year and 6-5 in conference play, while the Pacers fall to 1-13 and 1-12 in conference.
 
Game 1 - MU 8, WPU 1
 
After three innings of scoreless play, the Monarchs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Steven Kirby opened the frame with a triple to right field and a Matt Jack single drove Kirby home.
 
The Pacers recorded their lone run of the game in the top of the fifth, with Braxton Lamm singling to right and then scoring on a base hit by Nick Cole.
 
Methodist exploded in the bottom of the fifth, tallying five runs on seven hits. Singles by Chris Power, Cody Molosky and Alex Rodriguez loaded the bases and a two-RBI single by Kirby up the middle pushed the Monarch's lead to 3-1. Back-to-back singles by Jack and Ray Lanners scored Rodriguez and loaded the bases once again, and Pete Wildeboer reached on a fielder's choice, driving Kirby home for a 5-1 lead. MU gained a 6-1 advantage as Lucas Scott delivered a two-out RBI single to drive in Jack.
 
MU added its final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth, as Molosky got on after being hit by a pitch and stole second to get in scoring position. A ground out by Power advanced Molosky to third and a single by Rodriguez would score him. After reaching on a fielder's choice and stealing second, Kirby recorded his third scored run of the game on a single by Lanners.
 
Josh Howard (4-0) added another win to his resume, pitching a solid 8.0 innings with only four hits and one run allowed, adding six strikeouts. Greg Johnson entered for 1.0 innings in relief, and allowed no hits or runs.
 
Christian Neal was handed the loss, giving up six runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.
 
Jack finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored while Molosky went 2-for-3 with two scored runs. Power was 3-for-5 and Kirby went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI.
 
Cole and Tyler Klinedinst each went 1-for-3 and Cole added a scored run.
 
Game 2 - MU 10, WPU 1
 
The second game saw a much quicker start than the first, as Methodist jumped out in front of the Pacers, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the first. A single by Rodriguez and two walks by Kirby and Lanners loaded the bases, and after the Pacers held off Rodriguez from scoring, a passed ball scored Kirby put Methodist on the board, 1-0. Three back-to-back walks scored two, and a single up the middle by Alex Dockery added another two as the Monarchs went up 5-0. Power followed with another single through the right side to add MU's sixth run, and a triple by Rodriguez scored two more, giving the Green and Gold the early 8-0 advantage.
 
The Monarchs tacked on two more insurance runs, one in the third as Power singled to score Dockery and again in the sixth when Davis Cass scored on a passed ball.
 
WPU held off the mercy-rule loss in the seventh, recording its lone run as Hunter Allen scored on a ground out by Travis Arthur, putting the scoreboard at 10-1.
 
Travis Johnson picked up the win, pitching 6.0 scoreless innings and giving up just four hits with eight strikeouts. Logan Haines, Aaron O'Neil and Rett Lee all saw 1.0 innings on the mound in relief.
 
The loss was given to Mike Sgroi, who allowed eight runs on three hits in his 1.0 innings pitching for the Pacers. Chase Roupp finished the remaining 7.0 innings, giving up two runs (0 ER) and three hits, adding six strikeouts.
 
Power finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one scored run, while Dockery was 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lanners went 2-for-3 with one run scored and Rodriguez added two RBI.
 
Neal was 2-for-3 for WPU and Arthur was 1-for-4 with one RBI.
 
The Monarchs will face off against William Peace again on Monday for the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
 
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