FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Monarch softball played their home opener in a doubleheader against the University of Lynchburg Saturday afternoon at Don Price Field. The visiting Hornets won the first game 11-0 in five innings and completed the sweep in the second with a five-inning 9-1 victory.

A positive from the day was the Monarchs' plate discipline. The patience by Methodist batters in the nightcap paid off with eight walks drawn against only three strikeouts. The eight walks are the most since March of 2017.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Lynchburg def. Methodist 11-0 (5); Lynchburg def. Methodist 9-1 (5)
Records: Methodist 0-4, Lynchburg 2-0
Location: Don Price Field; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bethany Junker scored the Monarchs' only run of the day off of a double by Jordyn Propst in Game 2.
• After allowing three runs in the first inning of Game 1, the Monarchs' starting pitcher Brittany Jones settled down and pitched two innings of scoreless ball. She had a total of three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.
• An eight-run fifth inning by Lynchburg in the opener was too large of a deficit for Methodist to rally back from.
• In Game 2, the Hornets again used a fast start to jump out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning and five runs in the second.
• Cameron Liso entered Game 2 as relief and pitched four innings, allowing only one run. She pitched three consecutive scoreless innings.
• The Monarchs had a couple of opportunities to cut into the 9-1 deficit. Lynchburg escaped a bases loaded situation in the third, fourth, and finally in the fifth inning to end the game.

IN THE BOX

• Bri Caton and Sydney Kay accounted for the two Monarch hits in Game 1.
• In Game 2, Propst led the team with two hits. Junker had one hit and Blythe Best had a hit and drew a team-high two walks. Seven different Monarchs registered a walk in Game 2.
• Alex Fleck earned the team's only stolen base between both games.
• For the Hornets, Sarah Commons was the engine to the Lynchburg offense. Commons had five hits, five runs scored, and two walks in the two games combined today.

UP NEXT

• Next Saturday is the Monarchs' next game, another home doubleheader as Methodist takes on Messiah College at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• The University of Lynchburg are off for two weeks before they take the diamond on Saturday 23, in the Grand Slam Triangle Classic.