FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 17 Methodist University baseball team outscored Maryville 21-8 as it swept a doubleheader at Armstrong-Shelley Field on Saturday.
 
The Monarchs (29-11) picked up a 12-4 win in game one before capturing a 9-4 win over the Scots (26-12) in the night cap.
 
MU plated four runs in the first inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Matthias Carter started off the inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sac bunt by Ethan Carmack. Alex Kachler and Will May each walked to load the bases and Tucker Criswell singled to score Carter, 1-0, before a bases-clearing double by Jacob Austin set the score at 4-0.
 
In the second inning, Maryville got one run back as Caleb Adams singled to left and moved to second after a walk. Adams came around to score on an RBI single by Patrick Messinger, 4-1. The Monarchs responded with another run in the home half of the frame. Carter singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, much like the first inning. Kachler singled up the middle and Carter scored from second, 5-1.
 
The Scots scored twice on two hits and took advantage of an error by the second baseman to cut the lead down to 5-3. In response, the Monarchs plated six runners on three hits in the fifth. May singled twice in the inning, while five batters drew walks. Parker Clayton also had an RBI single and Kachler drew a bases-loaded walk for his second RBI of the game, 11-3. MC scored an unearned run in the sixth inning to cut into the deficit at 11-4, but MU upped the advantage In the seventh on an error.
 
Seth Beard (2-1) picked up the victory after tossing 5.0 innings. He scattered seven hits and gave up three runs (1 ER) with a pair of strikeouts. Logan Haines and Nathan Cockman each threw 2.0 innings to close out the game.
 
Anthony Rodriguez was saddled with the loss after giving up 10 runs on nine hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
 
Carter was 4 for 4 with an RBI, four runs scored, a double and a walk in game one, while May was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored and a walk. Austin was 1 for 4 but had three RBI and scored once. For the Scots, Johnny Carpenter was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run but was caught stealing.
 
In game two, Carter walked moved to second on a walk by Kachler. Both runners advanced on a fly out to right by May and Carter scored on a double steal attempt, 1-0. The Monarchs added two more in the second as Criswell scored on a sac fly by Clayton, 2-0, and Austin scored on a single by Manley.
 
The Scots fired back with two runs in the third to cut the lead to one run (3-2) as Alden Wright hit a two-run single with two outs to score Carpenter and Messinger. Another big inning from the Green and Gold saw the home side plate three runners in the fourth. Three straight one-out walks forced a pitching change and then a failed pickoff attempt scored Manley to score from third. May walked to reload the bases and Criswell singled to left to score two, 6-2.
 
In the sixth, the Scots scored twice on two hits and an error by Methodist to get back into the game and set the score at 6-4, but MU got a run back in the home part of the frame on a throwing error by the catcher, 7-4. Clayton tripled with two outs in the seventh and scored on an error to reach 8-4 and the Monarchs put up one more in the eighth on an error to set the final score at 9-4.
 
Tristen Luck earned the win after pitching 5.0 innings. He gave up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Thomas Dean pitched the final 4.0 frames and picked up his second save of the year. He also struck out six batters and allowed two runs (1 ER) on two hits. Ricky Ward (4-1) took his first loss of the year after exiting after 3.1 innings. He allowed six runs on three hits and walked eight batters.
 
Criswell was 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Clayton and Manley both had an RBI and a run scored. The Monarchs combined for six hits, but drew 11 walks in the win.
 
Methodist and Maryville close out their three-game series tomorrow, April 22, at 2 pm at Armstrong-Shelley Field.