DEMOREST, Ga. – The Methodist baseball team extended its win streak to an impressive 14 games on Friday, taking two from host Piedmont College, 7-6 and 10-3. With the sweep, the Monarchs are now 23-7 on the overall season and 15-5 in conference while the Lions fall to 17-10 overall and 14-9 in conference play.
Game 1 – MU 7, PC 6
The Monarchs grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, after an RBI single by
Matt Jack scored
Chris Power, who led off with a double.
Piedmont responded in the bottom half of the frame, tallying two runs off a single by Daniel Lindsey.
The Monarchs tied things up in the third on and RBI single by
Ray Lanners, and then regained the lead, 3-2, in the fourth as Power homered.
A single by
Lucas Scott and a sacrifice bunt in the fifth pushed Methodist's lead to 5-2, and the host team answered with a run in the bottom half to put the scoreboard at 5-3.
After the Monarchs tacked on another run in the seventh, Piedmont knotted the score at 6-6, scoring three runs on a home run by Breck Davidson. The Monarchs were able to regain the lead, however, in the ninth inning, as
Pete Wildeboer scored on an error by the Lions' pitcher.
Power finished 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored in game one, and Wildeboer was 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
Rett Lee (2-2) earned the win for Methodist, pitching 2.0 innings in relief for starting pitcher
Josh Howard, allowing three runs on three hits.
Tyler Hardee tossed the last 1.0 innings and allowed just one hit. Howard saw the mound for the first 6.0 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Davidson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored and Lindsey was 1-for-4 with three RBI.
Allen Tokarz (2-3) took the loss for the Lions, pitching 2.0 innings in relief and allowed one run (0 ER).
Game 2 – MU 10, PC 3
Down 2-0 in the top of the third, Methodist bounced back to go up 6-2 in the top of the third. Power led the inning off with a single and a triple by
Steven Kirby two batters later scored him. After Jack drew a walk, Lanners doubled, plating Kirby and advancing Jack to third. Scott was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a grand slam by
Stephen Nalls propelled the Monarchs forward.
Methodist extended its lead to 8-2 in the fourth, scoring on a ground out by Jack and a single by Lanners, and then 9-2 in the sixth as Lanners registered his third home run of the season.
The Lions tallied their last run of the game in the home half of the eighth, scoring on a triple by Evan Gresham.
The Green and Gold added one more in the ninth, scoring on a wild pitch for the final 10-3 score.
Nalls went a solid 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored with one walk and Lanners finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Kirby was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored and Power went 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Travis Johnson (5-1) was awarded the win, tossing 8.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Ross Leggett closed out the final 1.0 innings for Methodist.
Will Skidmore went 2-for-4 with one run scored and Austin Brick was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Max Oberkofler (3-3) was handed the loss, pitching 3.0 innings and allowed eight runs on four hits with three walks.
The Monarchs will complete the USA South series against Piedmont on Saturday with a single game beginning at 1 p.m.
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