FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist played its best softball today with a home doubleheader sweep of Piedmont International with a 7-1 and a 9-2 victory in non-conference action, Thursday afternoon.
Ahead of the start of USA South conference action, the Monarchs have reeled off three straight wins behind outstanding pitching.
Brittany Jones was masterful on the mound for Game 1, giving up only six hits and no earned runs with three strikeouts in her six innings.
Lindsey Champion followed up Jones' performance by allowing only three hits and one earned run in five innings.
Methodist is surging at the right time with a season-high seven runs scored that was topped by the second game's nine runs scored. The 13 hits in Game 2 was also a season-high.
The day's sweep of the Bruins also gives the Monarchs a three-game win streak.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Methodist def. Piedmont Int'l ,7-1; Methodist def. Piedmont Int'l, 9-3
Records: Methodist 3-7, Piedmont Int'l 2-7
Location: Don Price Field; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The fourth inning of the first game effectively ended the Bruins' hopes for a rally with the Monarchs doubling their 3-0 lead to a 6-0 advantage. Two singles and two doubles led to the three-run inning.
- The Monarchs got off to a quick start in the opener, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Samantha Jacobs was the first to score, advancing home off of a failed pickoff attempt. Junker's double in the second brought home Carleigh Haywood and Reagan Parks for two runs.
- For the second game in a row, Jacobs was the first Monarch to come across home plate, scoring off of a Champion single in the first inning of Game 2.
- Methodist took command in the third inning of the second game by scoring four runs off three hits and two Bruins errors. Champion and Blythe Best scored off of the errors and Bri Caton and Bethany Junker scored off two consecutive wild pitches.
- After Piedmont Int'l cut the lead to 5-2, the Monarchs responded with another four-run inning, this time in the sixth. Methodist used four hits and two Piedmont Int'l errors to widen the lead, including one of the craziest plays you'll ever see with Bethany Junker scoring on an intended sacrifice bunt after a very high throw resulted in an error from the Bruins' catcher.
- Game 2 had a chance to be even more ugly late but Piedmont Int'l escaped bases loaded situations in both the fifth and sixth innings to delay a mercy ruling. However, Methodist did escape its own bases loaded situation by Piedmont Int'l when the game was still 1-0.
- Kayli Cook ruined the Monarchs' shutout in the fifth inning of Game 1 when she reached on an error and Savannah Presley scored. The Bruins scored three runs in the final three innings to avoid a shutout in the latter game.
STAT FACTS
- Jacobs was a perfect four-of-four with a double in Game 2. She scored a combined four runs in both games.
- Champion proved that not only is she a beast on the mound but she's great at the plate, as well. Champion had three hits in four at-bats, with two runs scored to coincide with her start.
- Caton was the definition of consistent with two hits, a double, and two runs scored in each game. She had four RBIs today, including three in the first game.
- Ashley Benge had the golden eye at the plate today, drawing five walks total.
- Junker scored twice in game, including two hits with a double in Game 1.
- The Bruins' duo of Cook and Presley each had three hits between both games today.
UP NEXT
- The Monarchs begin conference play by visiting Brevard College on Saturday for a 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. doubleheader.
- Saturday, the Bruins play a doubleheader in Winston-Salem, N.C. with a 12 p.m. game against Kentucky Christian University and a 2 p.m. game against Alice Lloyd College (Ky.).
