LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- The Methodist baseball team split a doubleheader at Covenant in nonconference play on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs dropped game one, 8-7, before using a seven-run inning to defeat the home side 7-4 in game two.
 
With the results, the Monarchs move to 17-21 on the year, while the Scots close their regular season with a 14-24 mark.
 
Prior to the start of game one, the contests were delayed nearly one hour due to rain. The games were adjusted to become two, seven inning contests due to impending weather.
 
In game two, Covenant assumed a 1-0 lead in the first inning as a one-out single by Caleb Bloye ended up coming around to score on a ground out. The Scots added another score in the third frame on a lead-off homer to left field by Joel Johnson, 2-0.
 
During the top half of the fifth, MU exploded for seven runs on five hits. The inning began with a single by Clay Richardson before he moved to third on a double by Davis Cass. Matthias Carter followed with an infield single to score Richardson, 2-1. Brennen Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt to put two runners in scoring position before a two-run single by Lucas Scott, 4-2. After a pitching change, the Monarchs loaded the bases for Alex Kachler who belted a two-out grand slam to center field – his first collegiate home run. Covenant scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a home run to work the deficit to 7-4.

Methodist began the sixth frame with a walk by Cass who eventually came around to score on a double to center by Carter, 8-4, before Carter scored on a passed ball to give the Monarchs a five-run lead. Scott drew a walk before Criswell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a pitching change, Hardee drew a bases-loaded walk to put MU up 10-4. Wildeboer followed with his first career home run, a grand slam, to set the score to 14-4. With the home run, Wildeboer became the second Monarch in as many years to hit a home run in their final at-bat of their collegiate career - both homers came against Covenant.

After the home run, rain began to fall and with poor weather on the horizon for the foreseeable future, the game was called midway through the sixth inning.
 
Tyler Hardee earned his fifth win of the season as he tossed all 5.0 innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Ben Copeland was charged with the loss after recording only one out. He yielded four runs on seven hits. Sam Doherty started in game two and pitched 4.0 shutout innings and scattered just one hit with two walks and five strikeouts.
 
Kachler was 2 for 3 at the plate with four RBI and a run scored. Scott posted two RBI and a run scored, while Carter also had an RBI and scored once.
 
In game one, the Green and Gold jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Brown walked and moved to third on a double by Scott. Tucker Criswell put a 1-2 pitch into play that allowed Brown to score from third. Covenant tied the game in the home half of the frame after a 13-pitch at bat ended in a lead-off home run to right field.
 
The Monarchs scored two in the third after Carter led off with a single. He moved to third on a sacrifice and a fly out before Criswell walked and stole second. Hardee followed with a two-run single into the gap in right center, 3-1. MU added three more in the fifth as they took advantage of three hits and an error to take a 6-1 advantage. Covenant responded with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to make the score 6-5. In the top of the sixth, Richardson reached on a bunt and moved to third before crossing home plate on a singly by Carter as the lead was extended to 7-5.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Scots got two runners on with two outs before giving up a walk-off three-run home run to Alex Kerr as Covenant took game one, 8-7.
 
Madison Cook was strapped with the loss after 2.0 innings of relief. He scattered three runs and surrendered three runs. Nick Norton got the start and went 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Ross Skipper was handed the victory after 2.2. innings on the mound. He surrendered just one run on three hits. Drew Bradley started and pitched 4.1 innings with six runs (5 ER) on five hits, four walks and three wild pitches.
 
Carter went 3 for 4 at the plate in game one with an RBI and two runs scored. Pete Wildeboer also recorded two hits and an RBI. Criswell and Hardee each posted two RBI and a run scored.
 
Methodist closes its season at Pfeiffer on Tuesday, April 25, with first pitch scheduled for 6 pm.
 
 
 
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