FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist softball team split a doubleheader with Barton on Wednesday at Price Field, winning game one 6-2 before dropping game two 10-2.
 
With the results, the Monarchs move to 3-13 overall and snapped a six-game losing streak, while the Bulldogs move to 9-7 on the season.
 
In game one, MU plated three runners in the first inning. Samantha Jacobs started the inning with a single before stealing second base and moving to third on a bunt. Chloe Hespeler drove in Jacobs with a one-out single to left field, 1-0. Lindsey Champion reached base on an error before Hannah Key singled to drive in another run, 2-0. The last run of the inning came on a two-out single to center field by Jessica Orwick that allowed Allyson Aycock to score from third.
 
Barton cut into the lead by scoring once in the second and third innings. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Monarchs rallied for three runs again. After loading the bases with one out, Morgan Faircloth drew a walk to score one run before Hespeler hit a two-run single up the middle to extend the lead to 6-2.
 
Hespeler (1-5) received the victory after tossing 4.0 innings and yielding two runs (one earned) on five hits. Aly Thomas entered in the fifth inning to complete the game and scattered just one hit in 3.0 innings of relief. Carolina Merrill (0-3) was strapped with the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits in 5.0 innings in the circle.
 
Hespeler went 2 for 3 with three RBI in game one, while Jacobs collected one hit and scored two runs.
 
In game two, the Bulldogs sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on six hits and took advantage of two fielding errors to take an early 7-0 lead. The Monarchs cut into the lead in the home half of the first when Key lined a one-out double to right field to score Hespeler and Jordan Pietrolaj, 7-2. BC added three more runs in the top of the fifth before putting MU down in order to get the run-rule victory.
 
Emily Hester (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits in just 0.2 innings. Sierra Hearp (4-1) pitched all 5.0 innings and allowed two runs (earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and a pair of walks to get the win.
 
Methodist returns to action on Saturday, March 4 as it opens USA South play with a doubleheader at Mary Baldwin beginning at 1 pm.
 
 
 
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