FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist baseball opened its 2019 season with a home doubleheader at Shelley-Armstrong Field sweeping non-conference opponent Roanoke 7-4 in Game 1 and 8-7 in the night cap.

Alex Kachler and Tucker Criswell teamed up for five hits apiece on the day.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Methodist def. Roanoke, 7-4; Methodist def. Roanoke 8-6
Records: Methodist 2-0, Roanoke 0-2
Location: Shelley-Armstrong Field; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• With the score tied at seven in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 2, Clay Richardson scored what proved to be the game-winning run. Jacob Austin hit a perfectly placed ball up the middle with the second baseman tagging the runner from first base out at second but being unable to complete the double play.
• Tristan Luck earned the win with a third-out strikeout after pitching four scoreless innings.
• After the Monarchs jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of third inning, Game 2 had all the markings of easy win but Roanoke scored two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to make it a game again. Gavin Kandrick batted in three of the five runs in the two innings.
• Clay Richardson scored on a Criswell single in the sixth for the 7-5 score before the Maroons tied the game in the top of the eight. A Will Salva single resulted in Cale Agee being the tying run.
• The 2019 baseball season started with a bang as each team logged two runs in the first inning of Game 1. Four consecutive walks gave the Maroons a 2-0 score. Kachler registered the first Methodist hit of the season with a double that drove in Matthias Carter for a run. Criswell's single brought home Kachler from second base, resulting in a 2-2 tie after the first inning.
• The game and the score blew open in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Monarchs brought in four runs. Two of the four runs were scored on walks, one on a bunt, and the last coming from a Kachler sacrifice fly.
• Thomas Dean earned his save in the ninth inning by escaping a potential grand slam situation. The Maroons had the bases loaded with no outs with their clean-up hitter due up next, but Dean struck Jack Howard out and recorded the last two outs via fly out.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• After starting pitcher Seth Beard gave up four walks in the first inning of Game 1, he recovered nicely by pitching three straight scoreless and hitless innings.
• Will Walker earned the win with seven strikeouts in four innings and two earned runs.
• Ethan Carmack hit the only homerun of the day with a solo slam to right center in the sixth inning of Game 1.
• Austin logged four hits in the two games with one run batted in.
• Parker Clayton had a game-high three RBIs in Game 2 and Clay Richardson drew a game-high three walks in Game 2, as well.
• Freshman Pitcher Ricky Cameron could not have made his first collegiate appearance in a more high-pressure situation. Cameron entered as relief in Game 2 with the bases loaded and no outs and he managed to earn a strikeout and then force a groundout double play to retire the side.
• The Maroons' Salva led the team with a total of five hits combined for the day.

UP NEXT

• Next week is the Diamond Invitational for the Monarchs as they play Neumann University at Shelley-Armstrong Field on Friday at 4 p.m. with home games on Saturday and Sunday, as well.
• Roanoke College's home opener is next Saturday against Messiah College at 12 p.m.