FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The Methodist softball team faced a pair of conference foes over the weekend, taking on both Greensboro College and William Peace University at home. The Monarchs lost in both games to the Pride on Saturday before taking down the Pacers twice on Sunday.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: 
Saturday, April 5: Greensboro def. Methodist, 14–0 (5 inn.); Greensboro def. Methodist, 4–0;
Sunday, April 6: Methodist def. William Peace, 4–1; Methodist def. William Peace, 5–4
Records: Methodist 11–17 (4–4 USA So.); Greensboro 20–8 (5–1 USA So.); William Peace 15–13 (2–6 USA So.)
Location: Price Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED – SATURDAY

• The Monarchs were unable to score in two games against Greensboro while conceding 14 runs in game one and four in game two. Alyssa Rivas walked in both plate appearances in the first game, then batted 3–for–3 with a walk in the second contest. Hannah Lovick went 2–for–4 as the leadoff batter in game two. Methodist left six runners stranded in game one and 11 in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED – SUNDAY

• Kiersten Margoupis had a phenomenal performance in the first game versus William Peace, striking out a career–high 10 batters while allowing just five hits and one run. The Monarchs were scoreless for four innings and trailed 1–0 before coming to life in the bottom of the fifth. With two runners on, Kealy Wade singled to center field, scoring one run. Two batters later, Alex Edwards drilled a ball that ricocheted off the pitcher's glove, driving two runs home. Finally, a double by Blanchard (her first of three on the day) brought Edwards across the plate for a 4–1 lead.
• In game two, Haley Downes recorded an RBI single in the second inning to tie the score at 1–1. The Pacers pressed ahead in the top of the third with two runs, but the Monarchs answered with a trio of runs in the following frame. Rivas brought two runs home with a double to left–center field before Grace Hobbs batted Dakota Putman in from third to make the score 4–3. Methodist scored its fifth run on an error in the fourth inning. The Pacers scored once in the sixth to pull within one run, then saw the tying run make it to third base when Taryn Shelton tripled with two outs in the top of the seventh. Emma Neeley stood tall in the pitcher's circle and forced a final batter to fly out, ending the game with Methodist on top, 5–4.

NUMBERS

• With 11 total strikeouts in two games this weekend, Kiersten Margoupis surpassed 100 strikeouts in her collegiate career.
• The Monarchs totaled 17 hits in their two games against William Peace on Sunday.

UP NEXT
Methodist is back at home for its next doubleheader on Saturday, April 12, when the Monarchs host Southern Virgina University beginning at 1 p.m.