CARY, N.C. -- Tyler Hardee tossed 8.2 innings on the mound and allowed two runs with five strikeouts as the Methodist baseball team moved past William Peace, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Monarchs improve to 13-11 on the season with a 5-4 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Pacers drop to 12-15 overall behind a 4-6 record in the USA South.
 
MU started the scoring in the first inning as Matthias Carter led off the game with a single through the right side of the infield. He advanced to third after a sacrifice from Brennen Brown and scored on an RBI single by Lucas Scott, 1-0. The Pacers tied the contest in the home half of the third after Easton Payton led off with a single before moving to third on a groundout and a stolen base. Payton exited for a pinch runner as the following at-bat produced an RBI single to left field, 1-1.
 
The Monarchs took the lead in the fifth frame. Clay Richardson reached on a two-out single to left-center field and stole second base before coming around to score on an RBI double by Carter, 2-1. Pete Wildeboer led off the seventh inning with a triple to right and score on a sacrifice fly to right field by Alex Kachler, 3-1. WPU cut into the deficit with a sacrifice fly in the home half of the seventh, 3-2.
 
In the eighth inning, the Green and Gold tacked on another run after back-to-back two-out doubles by Scott and Tucker Criswell. The Monarchs added an insurance run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Carter that allowed Ethan Carmack, who entered as a pinch runner, to cross home plate, 5-2. The Pacers threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning with two runners on base, but could not score as the Monarchs held on for a 5-2 victory.
 
Hardee (3-1) started on the mound and tossed 8.2 innings. He allowed two runs on 12 hits and struck out five batters. Logan Haines (1) entered with two outs in the ninth inning with two runners on base to close out the game and record his first save of the season.

Luke Westmoreland (1-3) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs on nine hits in 7.2 innings of work. He posted five strikeouts with no walks. Ben Brann and Braxton Lamm each threw 0.2 innings of relief and combined to allow just one run on a single hit.
 
The Monarchs combined for 10 hits as Scott finished 3 for 4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Carter was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Criswell and Kachler drove in one run each. Richardson also registered two hits on Sunday.
 
For the Pacers, Will Cunningham was 2 for 3 at the plate, while Nathan Holt and Sean Finneran each went 2 for 4. Kyle Cranmer had one RBI and a run scored.
 
Methodist returns to action on Wednesday, March 22, against Tufts at Armstrong-Shelley Field beginning at 4 pm.
 
 
 
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