FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Methodist split a softball doubleheader with N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday afternoon at Price Field. The Monarchs fell short in game one, 6-5, before posting a 4-3 win in the nightcap.
 
In game one, the Monarchs (6-10, 2-6 USA South) trailed 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. McKenna Mitchell reached on a fielder's choice and moved up to second on a walk to Morgan Faircloth. After Heather Wiliams struck out, Sarah Stapleton singled to load the bases and Kelsey Harrington blasted a grand slam to left, her first homer of the season, to pull the Monarchs within a run at 6-5.
 
With two outs, Lindsay Tippett, the Monarchs' leader in home runs and RBI, flew out to deep left to end the threat.
 
Kendra Hoes got NCWC on the board in the first inning on an RBI single, and Jasmine Edgren added an RBI groundout for a 2-0 lead.
 
The score remained 2-0 until the sixth inning where each team plated a single run for a 3-1 contest entering the seventh. The Battling Bishops scored three runs in the top of the seventh on Sarah Bowyer's bases-loaded double for a 6-1 lead to set up the dramatic final half inning.
 
Edgren picked up the win in the circle. She allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Christine Bowman took the loss, surrendering six runs (5 ER) on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
 
Harrington and Stapleton each finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Harrington drove in four and scored twice, while Stapleton scored once.
 
Bowyer was 2-for-3 with three RBI and scored twice. Brittany Manning was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and Edgren drove in two.
 
In game two, the Monarchs rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the first inning to earn a split of the twinbill.
 
In the first inning, Peyton Hyler drew a bases-loaded walk for a 1-0 NCWC lead, and Sarah Roberts added a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.
 
The Green and Gold countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on Lindsay Tippett's RBI double and Bailly's RBI single to make it 3-2.Methodist pulled ahead in the third inning as Ally Griffin plated Tippett on a sacrifice fly followed by another sacrifice fly, this one off the bat of Alanna Anderson that scored Allyson Aycock with the game-winning run.
 
Emily Hester picked up her first win of the season with 6.0 innings of scoreless relief. She yielded just four hits and a walk with on strikeout. Hester came on in relief of Nicole Heinrich, who allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in 1.0 innig. Logan Lowery took the loss, she gave up four runs (2 ER) on six hits and five walks with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Harrington was 2-for-4 with a run and Bailly had two hits in three at bats to lead the MU offense. Tippett finished 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
 
N.C. Wesleyan was led by Manning, who was 2-for-4. Hyler finished 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, and Roberts was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in.
Methodist is back in action on Saturday at Mary Baldwin beginning at 2:00 pm.