FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist baseball team closed the 2017 Armstrong Invitational with an 8-6 victory against Rutgers-Camden at Armstrong-Shelley Field on Sunday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Monarchs improve to 7-5 on the year, while the Scarlet Raptors fall to 1-2 on the season.
 
The contest remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. Brennen Brown led off the inning with a double to left field before Davis Cass drew a walk. Alex Kachler reached on a bunt single to load the bases, as Brown came across to score on a sacrifice fly by Will May, 1-0. Pete Wildeboer reached on a bunt single that allowed Cass to score from third before a collision down the first-base line brought Kachler around to score as well, 3-0.
 
The Monarchs added two more runs the following inning after loading the bases with no outs and Kachler lined an RBI single to right field to score Mathias Carter. May followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Cass to give MU a 5-0 lead entering the fifth inning.
 
The Scarlet Raptors responded with a five-run inning after recording six hits and forcing a pitching change with one out, 5-5. For the Monarchs in the fifth, Tucker Criswell reached base on a single before making his way to third base and eventually scoring on a fielder's choice after sliding under a tag from the catcher, 6-5. MU added two insurance runs in the sixth inning after getting two runners in scoring position with two outs, who scored on a two-run single to left field by Criswell, 8-5.
 
Rutgers-Camden made the game interesting in the top of the ninth inning by registering four hits, but only scoring once as it left the bases loaded.
 
Logan Haines (1-0) took the win after throwing 4.2 innings of relief and allowing just one run (earned) on six hits. Tyler Hardee (ND) started the game but left after 4.1 innings and yielding five runs (earned) on nine hits with three strikeouts. Peter Han (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs (earned) on five hits and four walks. Giani D'Antonio (ND) started the game for the Scarlet Raptors but exited after 3.0 innings and scattered seven hits.
 
Brown and Kachler each went 3 for 5 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while Criswell and Wildeboer both recorded two hits. Cass was 1 for 2 on the day, but drew four walks.
 
The Monarchs return to action on Wednesday, March 1, against York in Myrtle Beach, S.C., beginning at 3 pm.
 
 
 
--