DEMOREST, Ga. – The Methodist baseball team continued play in the Piedmont Invitational with a 7-5 loss to the Lions on Saturday night.
Piedmont (3-1) put the first run of the game on the board in the bottom of the first inning. After Burdette drew a one-out walk, he eventually came around to score on a groundout to third base, 1-0. The Monarchs (2-2) responded by posting two runs in the top half of the second.
Clay Richardson led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a single by
Kevin Williams. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before
Brennan Brown was walked to load the bases.
Mathias Carter drew a bases-loaded walk to put the first MU run on the board before Brown crossed the plate on a wild pitch, 2-1.
The Green and Gold tacked on another run in the third after
Davis Cass led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch with two outs, 3-1. The Lions were put down in order before the Monarchs added another run in the fourth. Williams led off with a walk and advanced to third after an error. After a pitching change, Williams came around to score when
Pete Wildeboer hit into a fielder's choice, 4-1.
Piedmont tied the score in the home half of the fifth inning after plating three runs on four hits, but also left the bases loaded, before adding another run in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. The home side added two insurance runs in the seventh to make the score 7-4. The Monarchs were able to get one back in the following inning after
Alex Kachler was hit by a pitch and came around to score on an RBI double by Williams.
Tyler Hardee (ND) got the start and yielded four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings on the mound.
Noah Dawson (0-1) took the loss after throwing 0.2 innings and allowing a run on two hits. Barrett Courtwright (1-0) earned the win after striking out four and giving up just one hit in 3.0 innings of relief. Ben McCurley (ND) got the start and tossed 3.0 innings, allowing Monarch batters to collect five hits and score four runs, while walking five. Matt Vonderschmidt (1) recorded a save after striking out three and scattering three hits in 2.0 innings on the hill.
Cass ended the day 3 for 5 with a run scored, while Williams went 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Carter was held hitless, but drew two walks and collected an RBI.
The Monarchs close play in the Piedmont Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 12, against Christopher Newport with first pitch scheduled for 12 pm.
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