FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist softball team swept a doubleheader with Mary Baldwin at Price Field on Saturday.
MU took game one 5-4 before picking up an 11-3 (5 Innings) win in the second half of the twinbill.
Mary Baldwin took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one as Miller tripled to right and scored on a home run to center. The Fighting Squirrels added two more runs in the third as Pleasants hit a two-out, two run single to right-center field, 4-0.
Carleigh Haywood and
Chloe Hespeler hit back-to-back doubles to lead start a five-run third inning for the Monarchs. After Haywood scored on Hespeler's double,
Kelsey Smith reached on an infield single and
Aly Thomas walked to load the bases.
Ellie Gale laced a single to center to scoreone run before a three-run double by
Jordyn Propst put MU up for good, 5-4.
Searria Fisher started the game and pitched 2.2 innings and surrendered four runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Propst entered the circle to finish the game and tossed 4.1 scoreless innings. She allowed two hits and walked two to get her second win of the season.
Courteney Back (1-6) started and was strapped with the loss after yielding five runs on five hits. Kate Dickinson finished the game and did not allow a run.
Haywood was 3 for 3 at the plate with a run scored, while Fisher and Propst collected two hits in the first game of the day.
In game two, the Fighting Squirrels again started the game with a run in the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Welcher. The Monarchs answered back with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Haywood reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a single by Hespeler.
Kelsey Smith singled to load the bases and Propst singled to score one and tie the game, 1-1.
Ellie Gale lined a single to right to score two more as MU took a 3-1 lead.
In the home half of the second, the Monarchs picked up another four runs, including two runs on a double by Hespeler, 5-1. Gale hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Smith as MU extended the lead to 7-1. Two runs scored in the third frame as Hespeler drove in
Savannah Dunn and Smith laid down a squeeze bunt to score Haywood, 9-1.
Courteney Back homered in the fourth to cut the lead to 9-2, but a two-run single by Fisher gave the Monarchs an 11-2 advantage. MBU plated one run in the top of the fifth before
Miranda McKoy induced the final out of the game.
Brittany Jones (1-6) pitched 4.0 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts to pick up her first collegiate win. Meanwhile, Dickinson moved to 0-7 after only going 0.1 inning and allowing three runs on four hits.
Hespeler was 3 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Smith and Gale also picked up two hits. Gale recorded three RBI in the win.
Methodist returns to action tomorrow, March 18, with a doubleheader against Ferrum on Senior Day beginning at 1 pm.
--
