FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 11 Methodist University baseball team fell to No. 8 Randolph-Macon, 17-9, in non-conference action at Armstrong-Shelley Field on Tuesday.
 
With the loss, the Monarchs are now 22-7 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets move to 17-3-1.
 
R-MC put up three runs on three hits with a walk in the opening half inning before adding another in the third and a four-spot in the fourth to jump out to an 8-0 lead. Ethan Carmack launched his first collegiate home run to right field to lead off the bottom of the fourth frame to cut into the deficit and set the score at 8-1.
 
The Yellow Jackets batted around and scored five runs on four hits and took advantage of an error to go up 13-1. The Monarchs responded with three runs in the home half of the inning as Parker Clayton led off with a single and moved to second on an error by the center fielder who failed to keep the ball in front of him. Elliot Manley dropped down a bunt base hit to move Clayton to third and Carmack crushed his second home run of the afternoon, a three-run bomb, to make the score 13-4.
 
In the seventh inning, Randolph-Macon again broke out for four runs before Methodist struck back with three of its own. Clayton led off with another single and found himself on third after back-to-back walks to Manley and Matthias Carter. Alex Kachler drove in two runs with a double to right-center field and Tucker Criswell singled in Carter to bring the score to 17-7.
 
Davis Cass started off the eighth with a triple and scored on a ground out to add another run for MU, 17-8. In the ninth, Carter led off with an infield hit and took second base on an error before eventually scoring on a groundout by Kachler to set the final score at 17-9.
 
Hunter Barnes (1-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up three runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work. A total of eight pitchers took the hill for MU, including four freshmen.
 
Michael Zubovich picked up his first win of the season after tossing 6.0 innings and surrendering four runs on seven hits. He struckout three and walked one.
 
Carmack was 2 for 5 with a pair of home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. Clayton was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Cass also had a multi-hit game. Kachler finished with three RBI, as well.
 
For Randolph-Macon, Shawn Nickles was 4 for 5 with four RBI and a run scored to go with two stolen bases, while Jeff Butler and Reece Yeargain each had three hits.
 
Methodist closes USA South play this weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 7, at Averett beginning at 12 pm. The two sides will finish with a single game on Sunday at 2 pm.