FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- A bunt by Lucas Scott in the bottom of the 10th on Friday evening at Armstrong-Shelley Field sent Methodist to a 4-3 win over the visiting Pacers of William Peace University in the USA South-series homeopener.
 
Alex Dockery led the home-half of the 10th inning with a triple to center field and after Alex Rodriguez fouled out, Scott hit the RBI bunt just feet in front of home plate and the Pacers' (8-14, 1-5 USAS) defense was unable to halt Dockery from scoring.
 
Methodist (12-7, 3-2 USAS) went ahead, 1-0, in the first when Rodriguez stole home and then 2-0 in the second on throwing error by WPU on Pete Wildeboer's triple down the right field line, which allowed him to score.
 
An RBI double to left center by Easton Payton brought William Peace within one, 2-1, in the third before Will Cunningham homered to left field to knot things up, 2-2.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Dockery drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on the throw. A balk by Peace's starting pitcher, Trevor Pence, allowed Dockery to score, and MU regained the lead at 3-2.
 
In the top of the ninth, Alex Scott doubled through the left side and a single by Tyler Klinedinst pushed him to third. After a flyout by Nick Cole, Cunningham plated Scott with a single to shortstop, tying things once more 3-3, and eventually forcing the extra innings.
 
Dockery finished 1-for-3 and scored twice, and Davis Cass was 2-for-4. Scott went 1-for-3 with an RBI and both Wildeboer and Rodriguez were 1-for-4 with one scored run.
 
Overall, the Pacers out-hit the Monarchs, 9-7. Cunningham finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a scored run and Brian Willis was 2-for-4 and scored once.
 
Methodist's relief pitcher, Madison Cook (1-0), earned his first decision of 2016 after tossing the final inning and allowed no hits with one strikeout. Travis Johnson started for the Monarchs and pitched all 9.0 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts.
 
Chase Roupp (1-1) took the loss for William Peace after tossing the last 2.1 innings and allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Pence pitched the first 7.0 innings and allowed three runs (2 ER) on just four hits with four strikeouts.
 
Due to inclement weather, the two teams will complete the series with a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1:00 pm.
 
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