FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Tied 3-3 going into the eighth inning, visiting DeSales University broke open the game for a 6-3 win over Methodist baseball on the second day of the Diamond Invitational Saturday afternoon.

Matthias Carter and Tucker Criswell tried powering the Monarchs to a win offensively. Carter went two-for-three with a run scored and a triple, while Criswell also had two hits, including a first-inning, two-RBI homer. 

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: DeSales def. Methodist, 6-3
Records: Methodist 2-3, DeSales 1-1
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game could not have started any better for the Monarchs as Criswell belted a first inning homerun to left center to put Methodist up 2-0 early. Clay Richardson even added a third hit in the inning with a double, which hopefully would have provided a sign of more to come.
• DeSales tied the game in the third inning after registering three consecutive singles. However, two errors were credited to the Monarchs in the play, further aiding the Bulldogs.
• Carter had the perfect answer to DeSales tying the game. He hit a thunderous triple in the third and scored in the next at-bat, thanks to a RBI from Jacob Austin.
• Sean Hanczaryk delivered for the Bulldogs. Coming in to pinch hit in the seventh, he singled to score the go-ahead run and moved a runner from first to third. That runner scored in the next at-bat to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead.
• Following a fifth-inning DeSales homer to tie, the Monarchs' best chance to shift momentum came in the sixth but Criswell and Ethan Carmack were left stranded on third and second, respectively.

STAT FACTS

• For the second time in two days, the Monarchs' bats went cold. After registering three hits in the first inning, Methodist had five hits through the rest of the eight innings.
• Tyler Brown struck out eight and allowed just one earned run in his five innings of work. Despite the loss, Stephen Eller pitched well, striking out three and allowing just two hits and zero earned runs in three innings in relief.
• Robby Lamm scored two runs for DeSales, including a solo homer.

UP NEXT
On the third and final day of the Diamond Invitational, the Monarchs host Bridgewater College Sunday at 2 p.m.