FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist softball started their 2022 USA South Athletic Conference Softball Tournament journey with an early Tuesday afternoon contest against North Carolina Wesleyan College. The Monarchs went on to end the Battling Bishops 2022 season by defeating them 6-1 at Price Field.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 6-1
Records: Methodist 21-19, N.C. Wesleyan 19-18
Location: Price Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both starting pitchers for Methodist and N.C. Wesleyan were dealing to start the game. They each would get into a little bit of trouble about halfway through.
• First in the bottom of the third inning, the Monarchs managed to load the bases with only one out but unfortunately, they were unable to plate any runs. The Battling Bishops had a similar situation in the top of the fourth.
• After striking out the first batter, N.C. Wesleyan had two consecutive hits to put runners on the corners. A couple of batters later, Brittany Jones of Methodist gave up a walk to load the bases for the Battling Bishops, with two outs. Jones was able to regroup and struck out the very next batter to end the inning.
• Two walks and an error by N.C. Wesleyan once again put a Monarch runner on every base with one out. Up comes Haven Williams and the patient hitter worked a walk to bring in the first run of the contest.
• Fellow freshman Kayleigh Raynor would help Methodist's scoring output by smacking a hit to left center for a 2-RBI hit. This gave the Monarchs a 3-0 lead by the end of the fourth.
• For the third straight inning, Methodist juiced the bases with some of the young rookies coming up. First was Rebekah Haigler getting a run in off a sacrifice fly followed by Williams coming up and hitting a 2-RBI double to center to push the Monarchs advantage to 6-0.
• The Battling Bishops spoiled the shutout by scoring their lone run in the sixth.

STAT FACTS

• It has been over nine years since the last time Methodist softball has been apart and won a conference tournament game. The last time both of these occurred was back in April of 2013, when the team also defeated N.C. Wesleyan.
• Jones was excellent in the circle this afternoon as she spread out three hits, 10 strikeouts, and four walks in seven innings of work, while only allowing one run.

UP NEXT
Methodist (No.4 East) moves on to play in the bracket that features nationally ranked #20 Piedmont University (No.1 West), Covenant College (No.3 West), and Greensboro College (No.2 East) with all games being host by the Lions in Demorest, Georgia.
 
The Monarchs first game there will be against host Piedmont on Thursday at 2 PM.