SIGNATURE WIN: The Monarchs opened USA South conference action at home against Averett University and the first matchup provided fireworks in the form of a 4-3 walkoff win by Methodist over the Cougars. Averett held a 3-0 lead from the third inning until the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Ethan Carmack delivered a cannon shot to centerfield that stayed in play. The hit scored two runners but Carmack was tagged out after going for gold. He easily earned the triple but went for home, and the throw was on the mark and on time to keep Carmack from tying the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Carmack returned to leadoff the inning with another blast, this time he made sure it was a homerun, squaring the game at 3-3. Parker Clayton singled in the next at-bat and Christian Yarbrough was subbed in as the pinch runner. A sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch moved Yarbrough to third and senior Will May delivered the game-winning RBI with a perfectly placed bunt to complete the rally and win the game. The 4-3 victory also served as the first walkoff win of the season for Methodist, one of three.

SEASON NOTES: The overall record of 32-9 is a winning percentage of .780, the best mark since 2002 … the 20 conference wins were the most since the 2015 season … the Monarchs reeled off separate wins streaks of 10 and 11 games … nationally ranked by D3baseball, Methodist debuted in the polls at No. 21, peaked at No. 17, and spent seven consecutive weeks in the national rankings … Alex Kachler led the team in hits (67), RBIs (54), home runs (seven), and batting average (.406) … Tucker Criswell was second on the team with 59 hits, 43 RBIs, and a .366 batting average … Matthias Carter led the conference and was tied for third in the nation with 46 walks, and he was second in the conference with a team-high 51 runs scored … Jacob Austin led the nation with 20 sacrifice hits … Tristen Luck's nine wins (9-0 record) led the conference … Will Walker led the team with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP … Seth Beard led the team with 73 strikeouts in only 63.2 innings … As a team, Methodist led the conference in runs scored (345), and was second in hits (429), stolen bases (103), batting average (.310), ERA (3.44), and strikeouts (315).

POSTSEASON AWARDS:

• D3baseball.com All-American: Alex Kachler (second team, catcher)
• ABCA/Rawlings All-American: Kachler (second team, catcher)
• D3baseball.com All-South Region Player of Year: Kachler
• D3baseball.com All-South Region: Kachler (first team, catcher), Tristen Luck (second team, starting pitcher), Tucker Criswell (third team, third baseman)
• ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region: Kachler (first team, catcher), Luck (second team, pitcher), Criswell (second team, third baseman)
• USA South All-Conference: Criswell (first team), Kachler (first team), Luck (second), Carter (third), Carmack (third)
• USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Will Walker

LOOKING AHEAD: Next season has the potential to be really special and expectations will be sky high. It is not out of the question to expect an NCAA Tournament appearance as Coach Tom Austin expects to return all but four seniors. Each of his national, regional and all-conference players will be back and Criswell, Kachler, and Carter should be highly considered for preseason All-American honors entering the 2020 season. Next year's team will be full of experience as five seniors and three juniors are projected as starters in the lineup. If freshman McKinley Strickland can take a leap as he enters his sophomore year, the results would be spectacular. On the mound, it will be up to the trio of Luck, Walker and Tyler Brown to weather the loss of seniors Beard and Thomas Dean, the team-leader in saves this season.