Baseball | 4/20/2019 9:35:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GREENSBORO, N.C. With its sweep Saturday of Greensboro College, Methodist baseball finishes the regular season second in the USA South Athletic Conference standings. The Monarchs routed Greensboro in seven innings, 20-6, in Game 1 and won 8-3 in the second game of the doubleheader.
Methodist ends a half-game back of first place Piedmont College. As the second seed, the Monarchs will begin the USA South Conference tournament against seventh-place Maryville (Tenn.) College. Methodist won that season series 2-1.
In Game 1 against Greensboro, Methodist set multiple season-highs. The Monarchs reached the 20-hit threshold for the first time since 2016 and the 20 runs scored is the most by Methodist since 2017. Tucker Criswell led the attack with five hits and six RBIs, all new marks.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Methodist def. Greensboro, 20-6 (7); Methodist def. Greensboro, 8-3
Records: Methodist 31-6 (20-4 USA South), Greensboro 18-16 (12-9)
Location: Ted Leonard Park; Greensboro, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Game 2 was a relatively close affair, especially compared to the day's opener. It was a 2-2 game until Christian Yarbrough scored on a sacrifice bunt in the sixth. The Methodist offense added five more runs in the final three innings to scamper away with the victory.
- In the top of the seventh, the first four Monarchs reached base to score two runs for a 5-2 advantage. In the eighth, Methodist returned with another two more runs. Clay Richardson stole home and Ethan Carmack stole second and third before Alex Kachler batted him home.
- The Pride had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh but instead only scored one run and ended the inning with the bases loaded. In the fourth, Greensboro left the bases loaded without scoring a single run. Altogether, the Pride left 12 runners stranded and Methodist left 10 on base.
- In Game 1, the Monarchs were simply on fire and could not be extinguished as six Methodist players finished with two or more hits in the game. The runs started in the first inning and the Monarchs just keep piling on until the game was halted in the seventh by the conference's run rule.
STAT FACTS
- Kachler finished the nightcap with four hits in five at-bats with two RBIs and Matthias Carter was equally as good with three hits in three at-bats and two walks.
- Richardson and Parker Clayton each had two hits in Game 2. Richardson scored three runs and Clayton batted in three runs.
- Tristen Luck earned the win in the second game, going six innings and allowing only seven hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. Thomas Dean got the save and had five strikeouts in three innings.
- In Game 1, Kachler had five RBIs, five runs scored, and three hits. Richardson also had three hits while Jacob Austin, Will May (two doubles and four RBIs), and Parker Clayton finished with two.
UP NEXT
- Before the conference tournament next weekend, Methodist has its home regular season finale against non-conference opponent Virginia Wesleyan University at 3 p.m.
- The Monarchs' first round opponent in the conference tournament is already set. Methodist plays Maryville (Tenn.) Thursday in LaGrange, Ga., the site for the USA South's Spring Festival.
