FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum completed a three-game series sweep of the visiting Methodist baseball team as the Panthers won, 9-1, on Sunday afternoon at Panther Field.
 
With the loss, the Monarchs fall to 6-6 on the overall season and 0-3 in conference play, while the Panthers move to 9-6 overall and 3-0 in league play.
 
Ferrum started off strong, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run sacrifice fly by Lane Deaver. The Panthers pushed their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Austin Winkles singled to left field, scoring Jake Martin and Jacob Holland.
 
Methodist tallied its lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out on the board, Alex Rodriguez singled and an error by the Panthers on Ray Lanners' hit allowed him to get to third but a ground out by the next batter, Stephen Nalls, brought him home.
 
Ferrum exploded for four runs in the home half of the inning, going ahead 8-1, before tacking on an insurance run in the eighth when Deaver sent an RBI single to right field.
 
On the day, the Panthers out hit the Monarchs 12-2, with both hits coming from Rodriguez. Rodriguez finished 2-for-4 with one run scored.
 
Starting pitcher Ross Leggett (2-2) took the loss for the Green and Gold after tossing the first 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Nick Norton entered in relief for 1.2 innings and also allowed four runs on four hits. Greg Johnson saw the mound for 1.0 innings and gave up two hits with a strikeout and both Thomas Dean and Madison cook pitched for 0.2 innings and gave up one hit with one strikeout each. Dean also allowed the final Ferrum score.
 
Winkles finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and runs scored Deaver went 2-for-4 with four RBI.
 
Cliff Alexander (2-1) earned the win on the mound for the Panthers, pitching the first 7.0 innings with just two hits and one run (0 ER) allowed with six strikeouts.
 
Methodist will travel to Norfolk, Va. on Mar. 9 to take on host Virginia Wesleyan at 2:00 p.m.
 
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