RALEIGH, N.C. – The Methodist softball team dropped both ends of a twinbill against fellow USA South member William Peace on Friday, but Lindsay Tippett was able to tie the single-season home run record, tallying her eighth home run of the season in game one. With the losses, the Monarchs dropped to 14-16 on the year (8-8 USAS), while WPU improved to 16-9-1 (13-3 USAS).
Game 1 – WPU 4, MU 3 (8 INN)
After three scoreless innings of play, Methodist used the long ball to grab a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Tippett led the frame off with a homer to right field to tie the record and give MU a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Kristen Bailly recorded a home run of her own, plating Ally Griffin, who singled the play before.
The Pacers responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring one on a sacrifice fly by Morgan Bryant to bring the scoreboard to 3-1 in Methodist's favor.
William Peace tied things up in the bottom of the seventh, 3-3, scoring two on a ground out by Heather McLean and a single to left field by Shay Poteat, forcing extra innings.
The Green and Gold were unable to score in the top of the eighth, and the Pacers took advantage, scoring one off a single by Lindsey Wiggins to win the game, 4-3.
Nicole Heinrich pitched all 7.1 innings for Methodist, and was handed the loss after allowing four runs (3 ER) on 11 hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Tippett finished 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored and Griffin was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Bailly added two RBI.
Morgan Farmer started for the Pacers and earned the win, tossing 7.0 innings and allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Farmer went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Wiggins was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Game 2 – WPU 8, MU 6
Similar to the first game, Methodist was first to reach the board in game two. After leading off with a single to second base, Heather Williams was driven home on a single to right center by Allyson Aycock to give the Monarchs a 1-0 advantage.
William Peace took the lead in the bottom of the frame, tallying two runs on a single by Farmer and a sacrifice fly by Poteat. The Pacers extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the second, scoring two off a double to right center by Wiggins.
A single by Krista Zenter scored Bailly in the top of the fourth, and the Monarchs regained the lead in the fifth, registering four runs on five hits. After a line out by Emily Hester, Williams doubled to left center and a single by Brittany Miller advanced her, and an error by the Pacers allowed her to score. Tippett singled up the middle and another error by WPU forced Miller home to tie the game at 4-4. After a pitching change for WPU and a ground out by Aycock, Griffin plated Jessica Phelps, who pinch ran for Tippett. For the 6-4 lead, Bailly doubled to left field, scoring Griffin.
The Pacers tied the game once more with a two-run home run by Bryant in the fifth, and took an 8-6 lead in the sixth off a two-RBI single by Poteat.
Jordon Pietrolaj was handed the loss, pitching 1.1 innings in relief for starting pitcher Emily Hester, allowing two runs (0 ER) and two hits. Hester pitched the first 4.2 innings and gave up six runs (3 ER) and 10 hits.
Williams finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Bailly was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Lauren Martin grabbed the win for WPU, pitching the last 2.2 innings, giving up one run and three hits with two strikeouts.
Wiggins was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Bryant was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Poteat went 1-for-3, adding three RBI.
The Monarchs return to home play on Saturday as they host Meredith in a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m.
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