FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The Methodist baseball team dismantled the visiting Guilford Quakers, 17-4, behind a flurry of extra-base hits in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon.
Matthias Carter led the Monarchs at the plate with four hits, including a triple, in five at-bats and
Alex Kachler and
Jacob Austin each hit a home run in the win. Methodist set an early-season-high with seven extra base hits in the contest.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Guilford, 17-4
Records: Methodist 7-2, Guilford 5-4
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a close game for two innings as the score was tied at one before the Monarchs ignited for a six-run third inning. Clay Richardson's single brought home the first run and doubles by Tucker Criswell and Matthew Long, as well as Austin's two-RBI homer, accounted for the other five runs.
- Methodist piled on with nine more runs in the middle innings. The Carter triple and the Kachler homer came in the fifth, when the Monarchs brought four runs across the plate.
- Ryan Hill's two-RBI single in the fifth snapped three consecutive scoreless innings for the Quakers.
- In the seventh inning, two bases loaded situations ended without harm. Reliever Josh Tolson earned the fly out to escape his bases loaded situation, and after the Quakers' Matt Smith gave up three consecutive walks, he escaped the same situation in the bottom of the frame.
STAT FACTS
- Tyler Brown, the Monarchs' starting pitcher was excellent in his three innings of work, giving up only four hits and one unearned run with six strikeouts. Brown earned the victory in a 'staff' day for the Monarch pitchers.
- Kachler led the team with four runs batted in as six different Monarchs batted in two or more runs today.
- Austin and Parker Clayton had similar stat lines with two hits and a stolen base.
- Richardson may have busted his semi-slump with three hits in four at-bats. He also scored three runs and batted in a pair. In his previous 27 at-bats, Richardson had collected four hits.
- Criswell is proving his power, leading the team in slugging percentage after adding two more doubles to his resume.
- Christian Yarbrough -- in his first collegiate start -- drew a team-high three walks.
- Ryan Hill led the day for the Quakers with three hits and Dylan Tuttle led with three runs scored on two hits and two walks.
UP NEXT
- The Monarchs start conference play with a doubleheader at Armstrong-Shelley Field against Averett University on Saturday 1 and 4 p.m, followed by a Sunday matchup against the Cougars at 2 p.m.
- Guilford regroups with a home doubleheader against Southern Virginia, Saturday at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
