MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. Methodist's bats thundered through a pair of non-conference 7-inning wins over Cairn (Pa.) University Wednesday afternoon at The Ripken Experience facility, taking the neutral-site opener by a count of 15-2 before completing the sweep with a 12-4 victory over the Highlanders in the nightcap.
Will Dagenhart,
Wesley Hall and
Jordan Cassell collected four hits apiece over the doubleheader, with Dagenhart scoring a team-high seven runs.
In both games the starting pitchers,
Will Walker in the opener and
Ryan Hill in Game 2, earned winning decisions.
JUST THE FACTS
Final scores: Methodist def. Cairn 15-2 (7 inn.); Methodist def. Cairn 12-4 (7)
Records: Methodist 6-6; Cairn 2-2
Location: The Ripken Experience; Myrtle Beach, S.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It didn't take long to plate the winning runs in Game 1 as the Monarchs scored four times in the bottom of the second. The key hit was a 2-out, 2-RBI double by Dagenhart that pushed Josh Lallo and Spencer Nelson all the way around for the tying and go-ahead runs. Dagenhart and Anthony Favor would score in the next at-bat on a fielding error that proved costly for the Highlanders.
- Runs in each of the four innings -- including six in the bottom of the sixth -- would balloon the advantage to its eventual 13-run lead.
- Walker started on the mound for the Monarchs and scattered three hits across his five innings of work, allowing one unearned run while fanning three and without issuing a walk. Michael Orlowski and Tanner Freeland would each throw one full inning in relief, surrendering a combined two hits, one walk and one run.
- Game 2, without Methodist now serving as the visiting team, began with a bang, starting with Dagenhart's lead-off double in the top of the first. Rob Wilkerson sac bunted him to third, but the small-ball play wasn't necessary as Jordan Cassell then clubbed a 2-RBI home run over the left field fence for a quick 2-0 lead.
- Three more runs crossed in the top of the third, products of three steals of second base.
- Wilkerson reached on a fielder's choice and stole second with Cassell batting. Adding to his afternoon, Cassell rapped a two-out single up the middle that allowed Wilkerson to score.
- Cassell stole second then came home on a Wesley Hall single up the middle, followed by a Hall stolen base and a Hunter Hollman single to right field that plated Hall. For good measure, Hollman also stole second but a ground out ended the frame.
- Five more runs came across in the fifth, and two were added in the sixth.
- Ryan Hill (1-1) pitched 5.0 innings allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out eight and not surrendering a walk to any of the 17 batters he faced.
MORE NUMBERS
- Hall and Cassell each registered five RBIs on the day.
- Hall scored four runs, and Cassell, Wilkerson and Lallo each notched three runs.
- Methodist batters earned 12 walks in the series, while Monarch pitchers issued just three in all.
UP NEXT
Methodist will split a two-game non-conference series against visiting Piedmont College over the weekend, entertaining the Lions at 2 p.m. Saturday at Armstrong-Shelley Field and closing the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. outing.