FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist softball opened its 2026 season Saturday afternoon against nationally ranked No. 10 Christopher Newport University at Price Field. The Monarchs battled in a competitive opener before falling 6–3, then dropped the nightcap 14–2 in five innings to the Captains.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Chris. Newport def. Methodist, 6-3; Chris. Newport def. Methodist, 14-2 (5 Inn.)
Records: Methodist 0-2; Christopher Newport 2-0
Location: Price Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1
- Christopher Newport struck early, tallying four runs in the opening inning. Three of the first four Captains reached safely, highlighted by a two-run home run from Natalie Quinlan to make it 3–0. Kimberly Jones followed with a solo shot to extend the lead to 4–0.
- Methodist answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. A base hit and a CNU error put runners on the corners with no outs before senior Rachel Blanchard drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Freshman Bailey Bettencourt and junior Reilly Howell followed with back-to-back RBI knocks, trimming the deficit to 4–3.
- Quinlan added insurance in the third inning with her second two-run homer of the game, pushing the Captains' advantage to 6–3.
- The Monarchs threatened again in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out, but a pitching change by Christopher Newport halted the rally. From there, both teams' pitchers settled in, and neither side was able to push across another run.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2
- The nightcap mirrored the opener early, as Christopher Newport plated three runs in the first inning. Methodist got on the board with a Blanchard sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 3–1.
- The Captains extended the lead to 4–1 after two innings before breaking the game open in the third and fourth frames, scoring 10 combined runs to build a 14–1 advantage.
- Methodist added a run in the fifth after loading the bases, capitalizing on a CNU error, but the Captains secured the run-rule victory.
- Methodist's final run of the game came in the fifth inning, as the Monarchs had bases loaded and an error by CNU allowed another run to score.
NUMBERS
- Bailey Bettencourt was the only Monarch to record a hit in both games, finishing 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a walk.
- Senior Kiersten Margoupis saw action in the circle in both games. She was the starter in game one, pitching a complete game with eight strikeouts, before pitching the final inning in game two.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns to action Friday, February 20, hosting Messiah University at Price Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 PM.
