FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. On the second day of the 2026 Armstrong Invitational, the Methodist baseball team squared off against the Statesmen of Hobart College in a doubleheader of seven-inning games. The Statesmen, who defeated Hanover College twice in Fayetteville on Friday, willed their way to two victories over the Monarchs on Saturday.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Hobart def. Methodist, 16–13; Hobart def. Methodist, 5–3
Records: Methodist 2-3, Hobart 4-0
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1
The Statesmen scored three unearned runs in the top of the second during a inning that saw two errors by the Methodist defense. The Monarchs produced an answer in the bottom of the third, with
Jackson Kuhn and
Israel Ortiz logging back-to-back RBI singles.
Parker Evans contributed his own RBI single with bases loaded three batters later, then
Keegan Megaro promptly wore a pitch to earn a free base and bring home Methodist's fourth run of the inning.
Hobart's first five batters in the fourth inning combined for three walks and two base hits, resulting in three runs and a pitching change for Methodist.
Andrew Bubon relieved Kuhn, but didn't escape the inning before allowing three more runs to cross. The Monarchs responded with a huge offensive statement of their own, piecing together five hits, two walks and a hit by pitch to match the Statesmen with a six-run frame. Megaro and
Ethan Golemo each recorded two RBIs during the inning as the Monarchs took a 10–9 advantage.
Hobart retook the lead with a four-run fifth, to which Methodist had just a one-run reply in the bottom of the inning. After no runs for either side in the sixth, the Statesmen tacked on three more in the top of the seventh for good measure. Trailing by five, the Monarchs tried to start a rally with the first three batters in the bottom of the seventh reaching base via hit, with
Blake Freeman and
Bronson Shaikh each driving in a run. However, the comeback attempt came up short.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2
After reaching base on an error, Kuhn safely crossed home in the second inning to put Methodist on the scoreboard first. An unearned run in the top of the third for Hobart was match by the Monarchs with a run in the bottom of the inning (as
Austin Rinzel came around on a
Brandon Mauger triple into right field).
The teams again traded runs in the fourth, with Ortiz sprinting home on a pass ball to give Methodist a 3–2 edge.
Presley Patterson conceded just one earned run through five innings but ran out of steam in the sixth, putting one base runner on before allowing another to bring him around. With one runner on and one out,
Bryson Pope relieved Patterson for his first collegiate appearance. After striking out the first batter he faced, Pope walked the next batter, then conceded a 2RBI triple before striking out the last batter of the frame. The Monarchs were unable to make a game-tying effort in the sixth or the seventh, leaving a runner on base in both innings.
STAT FACTS
Shaikh had a terrific day at the plate, batting 3-for-3 in game one and totaling three walks and one hit by pitch during the two contests. Rinzel and Freeman both went 3-for-5 in the first game of the day, with Megaro and Evans each producing three RBIs.
UP NEXT
Methodist hosts Hanover on Sunday in a single, nine-inning game to finish out the Armstrong Invitational. Game time is currently set for 2 p.m. but will be dependent on weather.
