FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The three hits and three RBIs from
Tucker Criswell were enough to vault Methodist baseball over visiting Manhattanville College, 5-1, on the first day of the Armstrong Invitational Saturday afternoon.
It was a 2-1 game from the second inning to the seventh until the Monarchs poured in three more runs to gain some separation on the Valiants. The pitching for Methodist was superb,
Will Walker went seven innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run while
Hunter Barnes earned six strikeouts in two innings and allowed just two hits and no runs.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final Score: Methodist def. Manhattanville, 5-1
Records: Methodist 5-3; Manhattanville 0-1
Event: Day 1 of Armstrong Invitational
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Criswell belted a two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh which worked as the "finishing touch" on the Monarchs' win. Prior to Criswell's single, Matthias Carter led off with a walk followed by Jacob Austin and Alex Kachler legging out bunts for singles. Rob Wilkerson scored Kachler on a fielder's choice.
- Criswell also batted in the first run of the game when he singled to centerfield to score Austin in the first. Ethan Carmack singled to lead off the second inning and he scored after two sacrifice bunts, plus a steal.
- Manhattanville's lone run came in the second on a sacrifice fly after a walk and a passed ball put Peter Iannarilli on third base.
- Iannarilli had the perfect chance to put the Valiants ahead but Will Walker struck him out with the bases loaded in the third.
STAT FACTS
- Despite the relatively low score of six combined runs, both teams had ample opportunity to send a lot more runners across home plate. There were a combined 18 runners stranded, including seven Monarchs that were left stranded in scoring position and five Valiant players that were left on base in scoring position.
- The Monarchs had a field day and were constantly able to put the ball in play. The Manhattanville pitchers were only able to record one strikeout on the Methodist batters.
- Wilkerson and Wesley Hall had near identical statlines of two hits, with one double, a RBI, and a stolen base.
- Carter had a team-high two walks to go along with one hit and Austin registered one hit and drew a walk, as well.
UP NEXT
Sunday, February 23 is a doubleheader for Methodist as the Monarchs play Penn State Abington at 1 p.m. and then the University of Lynchburg at 4 p.m. for the final day of the Armstrong Invitational.
