MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Methodist baseball team earned a 9-3 neutral-site win over York College (Pa.), Wednesday evening at the Ripken Complex in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
With the win, the Green and Gold move to 6-3 on season, while York falls to 1-6.
After two scoreless innings, York was the first to make it on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Christian Bilan singled through the left side, scoring Sean Mohollen.
The Monarchs responded in the top of the when
Ray Lanners sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring
Stephen Nalls, who led off the inning with a single through the right side.
York regained the lead in the fifth, 2-1, with an RBI single by Mohollen, but a double by
Alex Rodriguez in the top of the six tied things once more, 2-2.
The Spartans took the lead for the last time and scored its last run of the in the home half of the sixth, when Steve Miller scored on a ground out by Michael Moore, giving YC a 3-2 edge.
In the top of the seventh, the Green and Gold took the lead and never looked back. With one out on the board,
Brennan Brown singled to left field and a double by
Lucas Scott scored him to tie the game. 3-3. After Scott advanced to third on a wild pitch, and RBI double by
Pete Wildeboer scored him and the Monarchs took their first lead of the game, 4-3.
A lead-off home run to right-center field by Lanners, his third of the season, extended Methodist's lead to 5-3 before the Monarchs exploded for four runs in the top of the ninth. Scott led off with a single through the left side and a sac bunt by Wildeboer advanced him to second, but a double to center by Rodriguez would score him. Lanners recorded his second home run of the game in the next at bat, a two-run bomb to right center.
Davis Cass, the next batter, drew a walk and then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, and a single to center by
Alex Dockery scored him for MU's final run of the game, and the 9-3 advantage.
On the night, Lanners was 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored and Rodriguez finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and scored once. Nalls was also 3-for-5 and scored twice and Scott was 2-for-2 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Ross Leggett (2-1), earned his second win of the season after entering in relief for starting pitcher,
Seth Beard, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing one run on four hits. Beard pitched the first 5.0 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
Nick Norton was credited the save, his first of the season, tossing the final 2.0 innings, allowing no runs or hits with three strikeouts.
York's Bilan and Miller were both 1-for-3 and tallied one RBI and scored once, respectively. Patrick Clement and Seth Brosius each went 2-for-4.
Scott Steffy took the loss for the Spartans, entering relief for 2.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Jeff Noss was on the mound for the first 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikouts and just one walk. Ben Demchak tossed the final 1.0 innings and allowed four runs on four hits.
Methodist is back in action on Saturday as it travels to Ferrum, Va. to open USA South conference play with a three-game series against Ferrum College. The first game it scheduled to start on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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