FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  In mirror images of itself, the two games of the USA South Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader between Methodist and visiting North Carolina Wesleyan Saturday evening featured a late comeback and the final out of the game being recorded at home plate.

In Game 1, the Monarchs won 13-12 after staving off a five-run ninth-inning rally and in the nightcap, the Battling Bishops won 8-7 after the Monarchs scored three runs in the final two innings. In both games, an outfielder was able to make a pinpoint throw to the catcher for the final out of the game.

Tucker Criswell went a perfect five-for-five (a season-high) with two RBIs in the first game and Rob Wilkerson was a near-perfect four-of-five with two doubles in the nightcap.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 13-12; N.C. Wesleyan def. Methodist, 8-7
Records: Methodist 21-6 (11-4 USA South) N.C. Wesleyan 18-8 (9-5)
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first game, Trey Croom hit a fly out to centerfield and Clay Richardson sent a beauty to catcher Will May to get Alec Titmus out at home. It was Ricky Cameron that earned the save after he delivered in the high-pressure situation of no outs with the bases loaded.
•  In Game 2, May singled through the left side and Wilkerson tried to advance home from second base. Logan Andrews, the left fielder launched a dagger to home plate for the final out in a near repeat scenario.
• Trailing 13-7 in the top of the ninth of Game 1, the Battling Bishops scored two runs and had the bases loaded with no outs off with four hits and a walk. The next two runs scored from a perfectly placed single up the middle by Cedrick Kornegay and put Titmus at third.
• Through the fifth to the seventh innings, the Monarchs scored six runs to turn a narrow 6-5 advantage into a 12-6 lead.
• Previously, after Methodist scored six runs in the second and third innings, the Bishops countered by sending three runners across home plate in the fourth to cut the deficit to 6-5.
• In the nightcap and down 8-4 in the bottom of the eighth, the Monarchs were able to eat into the lead with two runs off of three walks and a Wilkerson double. Methodist was also aided by two passed balls. However, the runners on second and third were left stranded.
• In the ninth inning, another Wilkerson double scored Criswell and made Wilkerson the game-tying run on second before May's single.
• N.C. Wesleyan's offense came in spurts. The Bishops had six hits in the fourth and sixth innings combined and three hits throughout the rest of Game 2. They scored four runs a piece in the two innings.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Ethan Carmack hit a homerun to right field to tie the second game at 4-all.

STAT FACTS

• Criswell finished the day with seven hits and a walk in nine at-bats, as well as three RBIs and three runs scored.
• Carter had three hits in the first game and Alex Kachler, Jacob Austin, and Parker Clayton had two hits in the game. Clayton also drew two walks in Game 1.
• In the second game, May had two hits and Austin drew two walks.
• Hunter Barnes pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball in relief in the nightcap to give Methodist a chance to tie.
• The Monarchs put on a baseball clinic in the first game that baseball purists would love. Methodist had six sacrifice bunts, as well as numerous bunt singles. Austin and Carmack led with two sacrifice hits each.
• Conversely, the first game featured a grand totals of 10 errors and three wild pitches between both teams, resulting in a combined eight unearned runs.
• Brad Pennington led the Bishops at the plate with three hits and three walks for the day.

UP NEXT

• Methodist is home again Friday at 5 p.m. for a three-game weekend series against conference foe Brevard College.
• N.C. Wesleyan is home for a non-conference matchup against Virginia Wesleyan Tuesday at 3 p.m.