GROTTOES, Va. After a doubleheader split on Saturday, the Methodist baseball squad returned to face Mary Baldwin University once more on Sunday to see who would win the weekend series. Scoring 23 runs, the Monarchs prevailed while conceding just nine runs to the Fighting Squirrels.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 23–9 (7 innings)
Records: Methodist 18-8 (7–2 USA South), Mary Baldwin 4–20 (2–7 USA South)
Location: Shifflett Field; Grottoes, Virginia
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Methodist wasted no time establishing a lead, going ahead 7–0 through one and a half innings. Brandon Mauger and Parker Evans recorded extra–base hits, knocking a double and a triple respectively.
- The Monarchs had a five–run third inning that included another triple – this time off the barrel of Jackson Deal's bat. Evans and Justin Blunt each batted a run in during the fourth inning, giving Methodist a 14–5 advantage.
- Three runs for Mary Baldwin in the fifth tightened the margin to a six–run difference. That was no sweat for the Monarchs, who returned fire with eight runs in the top of the sixth. Adding insurance, Mauger launched a solo shot in the seventh. The Fighting Squirrels produced just a single run in the bottom of the inning, falling short of the necessary amount to keep the game going.
STAT FACTS
- Deal's five–hit performance marks the second time he's accomplished five hits in a single game, matching his five–hit outing versus Alma College on February 16, 2023. The center fielder accumulated 10 hits in three games against the Fighting Squirrels this weekend.
- Tristen Melvin recorded five RBIs for the second time in three games versus Mary Baldwin on the weekend. The left fielder finished the series 6–for–9 with five walks and 10 RBIs.
UP NEXT
Methodist has an upcoming midweek matchup with non–conference opponent Guilford College on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Greensboro.
