FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  In the final USA South Athletic Conference series of the season, the Monarchs won the first matchup against visiting Greensboro College, 10-5, Thursday evening.

Alex Kachler broke a tight contest open with a three-RBI homerun in the sixth. The Monarchs would score two more runs in the inning, turning a narrow 4-3 lead into six-run, 9-3 bulge.

Methodist logged 16 hits in the game, a top-five mark on the season. Kachler, Ethan Carmack, and Tucker Criswell each finished with a team-high three hits and a combined six runs scored.

The three-game set was originally scheduled for a single Friday game in Greensboro followed by a doubleheader there the next day. Field conditions forced the Pride to shift the series opener to Fayetteville, and expected bad weather on Friday shifted the game to Thursday.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Methodist def. Greensboro, 10-5
Records: Methodist 29-6 (18-4 USA South), Greensboro 18-14 (12-7)
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The sixth inning rally started with two consecutive walks and a RBI single from Jacob Austin. Kachler cleaned up with a homer to left field, followed by a Tucker Criswell double and a RBI single from Will May in the next at-bats.
• Kachler broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth, advancing from first to home thanks to a throwing error by the Pride cut-off man. In the previous half-inning, Hunter Curtis had tied the game at 3-all with a bases-clearing double.
• Thomas Dean entered the game in the ninth with the bases loaded and ended the game with a easy pop up, leaving the three runners stranded. He earned the save since the potential tying run was on deck.
• Greensboro errors assisted Methodist early in the game as three of the Monarchs first four runs were unearned.

STAT FACTS

• Austin, and May finished with two hits in four at-bats each. Parker Clayton had two hits, as well. Carter was the only other Monarch with a hit.
• In addition to their three hits, Carmack and Kachler also drew a walk.
• Austin had two RBIs and Kachler led the team with four.
• The score could have been very lopsided since Methodist left 11 men stranded.
• Six Monarchs posted a multi-hit game.
• Eight different Greensboro players registered one hit. No one had more than one hit. Lincoln Hewett and Jacob Rodriguez each drew a team-high two walks.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs and the Pride will play the remaining two games of the series in Greensboro for a Saturday doubleheader, with the first game starting at 1 p.m.
• Before the conference tournament next weekend, Methodist has a home finale date against non-conference opponent Virginia Wesleyan, Monday at 3 p.m.