Skip To Main Content

Methodist University Athletics

The Official Athletics Site of The Methodist University monarchs Methodist University monarchs
Banks Engle on second base
4
Winner Messiah MESS 1-0
3
Methodist MUBB 0-1
Winner
Messiah MESS
1-0
4
Final
3
Methodist MUBB
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Messiah MESS 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4 5 2
Methodist MUBB 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 10 2

W: C. Foltz (1-0) L: Plisko, Josh (0-1) S: N. Barrall (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Matthew Shealy

Methodist Falls to Messiah on Opening Day

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Taking the field for the first time in 2024, the Methodist baseball team suffered a narrow loss to the Messiah Falcons, falling 4-3 on Opening Day. The teams traded runs one at a time until the eighth inning, when the Monarchs had no answer for Messiah's fourth run of the ballgame.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Messiah def. Methodist, 4-3
Records: Methodist 0-1, Messiah 1-0
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Messiah struck first, capitalizing on two early walks that helped put a runner in scoring position just in time for a double down the right-field line. In the bottom of the inning, Methodist took advantage of two errors by the visitors, with Jackson Deal scoring on an errant throw by the Falcons.
  • In the top of the third, Kyle Molivas collected two outs via strikeout, but conceded a single that drove in an unearned run. Answering in the bottom of the inning, the Monarchs produced three singles – the third of which came off the bat of Banks Hartman, who delivered Caleb Greene across home plate to tie the score at 2-2.
  • With Jackson Kuhn on the bump in the seventh inning, the Falcons led off with a walk. The runner advanced to second on a passed ball, was moved to third on a groundout, then crossed home on a single to right field.
  • Again, the Monarchs had a response, with Banks Engle recording a double to start the bottom of the seventh. Behind him, Caleb Greene laid down a bunt toward third base, advancing Engle while beating out the throw to first. Next, Deal stepped up, directing a high-bouncing ball to land between the pitcher and the catcher despite his full swing. The catcher picked up the ball, saw that Engle was already crossing home, and made an unsuccessful attempt to throw Deal out at first. The Monarchs tied the game at 3-3, but proceeded to leave two runners stranded.
  • Josh Plisko took the mound for Methodist to start the eighth, leading off with a strikeout. After walking the next two batters, it looked as if Plisko had forced the next batter to ground into a double play. However, the umpire ruled catcher's interference, which loaded the bases. Plisko threw a wild pitch during the next at-bat, allowing the man on third to score for the Falcons, giving Messiah a 4-3 lead. The Monarchs were unable to put a runner on base in the eighth or the ninth.
MORE STATS
  • Center fielder Jackson Deal had a nice night offensively, finishing 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and one run scored. The Monarchs collectively garnered 10 hits.
  • Methodist pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts but also gave up 10 walks.  
  • Tanner Simpson relieved Kyle Molivas to start the fifth inning, and he earned two strikeouts across two scoreless innings.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns to action on Saturday with two more games at Armstrong-Shelley Field against Messiah. The first game is set to begin at 1 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version