FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist softball dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Salem College on Monday night, falling in six innings in game one, 14-3, before losing in extra innings due to a late-inning comeback by the Spirits, 14-11. With the losses, the Monarchs fall to 14-14, while SC improves to 12-10-2.
 
Game 1 – SC 14, MU 3 (6 INN)
 
With two outs in the top of the first, Salem used back-to-back doubles to gain a 1-0 lead, and then added two more in the second off an RBI single by Montana Lineberger and an error by Methodist for a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Spirits used the long ball to start its six-run third inning. A home run to center field by Maggie Fritts pushed Salem ahead, 5-0, and another error by the Monarchs added another run. A single to right by Bre Crumley scored two, and a single by Kiersten Garner on the next play added one more to give the Spirits a 9-0 advantage.
 
Methodist got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth, tallying three runs. After Ally Griffin drew a lead-off walk and a fly out by Allana Anderson, Kristen Bailly put the Monarchs in scoring position with a single to left field, pushing Griffin to second. The next batter, Kirsten Markow sent an RBI double to left center, scoring Griffin. A single by Krista Zenter scored Jessica Phelps, who pinch ran for Bailly, and a single by Allyson Aycock drove in Zentner, and put the scoreboard at 9-3.
 
Salem tacked on five more runs in the sixth and held the Monarchs to just one hit in the bottom of the frame to insure a run-rule victory.
 
Zentner finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and on run scored and Markow was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Nicole Heinrich was handed the loss, pitching the first 2.1 innings and allowing five runs (4 ER) on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
 
Garner was 3-for-5 with three RBI and Amber Bass was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
 
Salem's starting pitcher, Breanna Morris, earned the win, tossing 3.2 innings and allowed three runs and eight hits.
 
Game 2 – SC 14, MU 11 (8 INN)
 
Despite having an 8-0 advantage in the fourth, Methodist saw its lead disappear as Salem rallied, forcing the game into extra innings, and eventually was out-lasted, 14-11.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Monarchs made it on the board first in the second inning, tallying five runs on a walked-in run, a single by Heather Williams, and a double by Aycock.
 
Methodist pushed its lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the third. Morgan Faircloth used a single through the left side to score Kelsey Harrington, who led off with a single up the middle. A single by Zenter scored Anderson after she reached on a fielder's choice and an error by Salem tacked on another run.
 
Salem came within three runs of Methodist, scoring two in the fourth and, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to put the scoreboard at 8-5 in MU's favor.
 
The Monarchs extended their lead to 10-5 in the sixth, registering two runs of an RBI double by Griffin and a fielder's choice by Anderson.
 
The Spirits tied the game, 10-10, in the top of the seventh, exploding for five runs on five hits. Despite loading the bases in the bottom of the frame, the Monarchs couldn't manage a walk-off win, and were forced into extra innings.
 
Salem used singles by Fritts, Lauryn Smith and Kayla Kennedy to tally four runs, grabbing the lead for the first time of the game, 14-10.
 
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, a single by Anderson scored Harrington for the last run of the game.
 
Anderson finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored while Griffin was 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Aycock went 1-for-4 with four RBI and Markow was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
 
Smith went a solid 3-for-5 with six RBI and one run scored, while Fritts went 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.
 
Christine Bowman was tagged with the loss, pitching 1.2 innings for the Monarchs and allowed four runs (2 ER) and five hits.
 
Morris grabbed her second win of the night, entering in relief for Salem, allowing three runs (2 ER) on 10 hits in 5.2 innings.
 
The Monarchs are back in action on Friday as they travel to Raleigh, N.C. for a USA South doubleheader against William Peace beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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