FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist baseball team's impressive pitching staff and strong offense led the Monarchs to their 11th straight win on Saturday, claiming a pair of USA South victories, 9-1 and 6-0. Methodist (20-7, 12-5) went for 21 hits on Saturday while the MU pitching staff held the Scots (19-9, 14-9) to just 10 hits and one run.
Game 1 – MU 9, MC 1
The Monarchs struck early in game one, tallying four runs with two outs on the board. After ground outs by
Chris Power and
Alex Rodriguez, singles by
Steven Kirby and
Matt Jack put MU in scoring position and a single by Lanners put Methodist on the board, scoring Kirby. Back-to-back singles by
Pete Wildeboer and
Lucas Scott scored two more and a wild pitch by Maryville's starting pitcher, Seth Debity, tacked on one more for a 4-0 home advantage.
After leading off the second with a single up the middle,
Cody Molosky was driven home on a triple to center by Power and a ground out by Rodriguez scored Power to give Methodist a 6-0 early lead.
The Monarchs added one more in the bottom of the sixth on a double to left center by Rodriguez, and Maryville responded in the top of the seventh with a double down the right-field line by Logan Jenkins to score Jacob Frost, tallying its lone run of the game and putting the scoreboard at 7-1.
A bunt by
Stephen Nalls in the seventh and a double by Wildeboer in the eighth pushed MU ahead, 9-1, for the eventual wining score.
Josh Howard (6-0) remains perfect on the season, grabbing the win for Methodist after pitching a solid 6.2 innings and allowing just five hits and one run with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Rett Lee saw 1.1 innings on the mound and allowed one hit and added two strikeouts and
Logan Haines tossed the final 1.0 innings and allowed no hits or runs.
Scott was 3-for-5 in game one, adding an RBI and Wildeboer went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Molosky was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Lanners finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks, one intentional.
Debity (3-4) was handed the loss for the Scots, pitching the first 5.1 innings and allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Bill Woodroof entered in relief for the final 2.2 innings and gave up two runs and three hits with three walks.
Jenkins finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and John McDermott went 2-for-3.
Game 2 – MU 6, MC 0
Travis Johnson (4-1) delivered an outstanding outing for Methodist in game two, pitching a scoreless 8.0 innings and allowed just four hits to help the Monarchs to the 6-0 victory.
Methodist was the first to reach the board again in the nightcap, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first when Kirby launched a double deep to center field that scored Power.
The Monarchs went ahead, 3-0, in the bottom of the second, scoring off a an error by the Scots and a ground out by Power.
A single by Molosky in the home half of the fourth plated Wildeboer, who singled to center two batters prior, pushed MU ahead, 4-0, and another error by Maryville in the seventh gave the Monarchs a 5-0 advantage.
A single by Molosky drove home Scott in the bottom of the eighth, tallying Methodist's final run of the day.
Wildeboer finished 3-for-4 in game two, adding a run scored, and Molosky also went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Power and Kirby each added an RBI.
Tyler Hardee closed for Methodist, pitching the last inning perfectly.
Nick Dean was 2-for-4 for the Scots, while Frost went 1-for-3.
Jeremy Ibarra took the loss, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing five runs (3 ER) on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
The two teams meet again tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 29, for a 1 p.m. series finale game.
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