FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The 19th-ranked Methodist baseball team concluded its regular season play with a 4-1 win over LaGrange College Monday afternoon at Armstrong Shelley Field. The Green and Gold (32-8, 24-6 USAS) recorded 9 hits while Michael Inman, Daniel Royer, Rett Lee and Tyler Hardee combined to hold the Panthers (13-23, 12-15 USAS) to just one run on seven hits en route to the victory.
 
After three innings of scoreless play, Methodist grabbed a 2-0 lead. Alex Rodriguez sent a lead-off single to center field and an error by LaGrange advanced him to second. Steven Kirby scored Rodriguez with a single up the middle and back-to-back-to-back bunts by Matt Jack, Ray Lanners and Pete Wildeboer plated Kirby.
 
Adam Gunn drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth and after a sacrifice bunt by Cody Molosky advanced him to second, a double down the right-field line by Chris Power scored Gunn and the Monarchs went ahead, 3-0.
 
The Green and Gold tacked on their last run of the game with two outs on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Wildeboer singled up the middle and pinch-hitter Lucas Scott doubled to left center to plate him, giving MU a 4-0 advantage.
 
The Panthers attempted to rally in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs, but fell short, scoring just one run on a fielder's choice by Jackson Patrick.
 
Starting pitcher, Inman (6-1), earned the win for Methodist, allowing no runs on three hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings on the mound.
 
Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and Power went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Kirby added a scored run and an RBI in his four at-bats and Wildeboer was 1-for-3 with an RBI and crossed the plate once.
 
Zach Tatham took the loss for LaGrange, tossing 5.0 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits.
 
Chris Laye was 2-for-4 and Alec Redden finished 1-for-3 with one run scored.
 
Methodist will wait for the announcement of its opponent and location for the NCAA Regionals, which will be released on May 11.
 
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