ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- N.C. Wesleyan swept the Methodist softball in a twinbill at Edge Field.
 
The Monarchs (6-28, 2-14 USA South) saw a late comeback fall short in a 7-4 loss in the opener and Jasmine Edgren tossed a four-hit shutout for a 4-0 Battling Bishop win in game two.
 
After falling behind 7-1, the Monarchs attempted to rally in the seventh inning. Hannah Key led off the inning with a single, and Kelsey Harrington's one-out base hit gave MU runners on first and second. With two outs, Kristen Bailly walked to load the bases, and the Monarchs got their first run of the frame on Allyson Aycock's RBI single. Alanna Anderson made it 7-3 with an infield single that scored Harrington. Katelyn Howell, who came on as a pinch runner for Bailly, scored on a passed ball to pull MU within 7-4.
 
A strikeout, however, ended the threat and made winners of the hosts.
 
Harrington led MU at the plate going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Morgan Faircloth, Aycock, Anderson and Key all had a base hit for the Green and Gold. Christine Bowman started in the circle and took the loss. She allowed five runs (4 ER) on nine hits and four walks in 3.1 innings.
 
Brittany Manning powered the Bishops, going 4-for-4 at the plate. Edgren was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, and Tiffany Manning was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
 
In the nightcap, Edgren limited MU to four hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Emily Hester was a tough-luck loser for the Monarchs, surrendering four runs (2 ER) on eight hits with two strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
 
The game was scoreless until the third inning when Brittany Manning gave NCWC a 1-0 lead with an RBI double to left. Abigail Leonard scored in the fifth on a double steal, and Edgren tacked on another run in the fifth with a single to right center. Tiffany Manning capped the scoring with a single to left in the sixth.
 
Harrington, Faircloth, Bailly and Sydney Foland accounted for all four of MU's base hits.
 
Edgren, Lindsay Sharpe and Tiffany Manning all had a pair of base hits for the Battling Bishops.
 
Methodist is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Ferrum in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 pm.