MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. Methodist baseball traveled to the Cal Ripken Experience on Wednesday afternoon for a non-conference neutral-site matchup against Keystone College. In a back-and-forth slugfest at Griffith Field, the Giants used a late grand slam to secure a 17–13 victory over the Monarchs.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Keystone def. Methodist, 17–13
Records: Methodist 2-5, Keystone 1-2
Location: Cal Ripken Experience (Griffith Field); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Keystone struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a double and a pair of Monarch miscues to take an early 1–0 lead.
- Methodist responded in the second to move in front, 2–1. After back-to-back hits and a wild pitch placed runners in scoring position, senior Jackson Kuhn brought home the first run on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Bronson Shaikh followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Monarchs the advantage.
- The lead was short-lived, however, as the Giants answered with four runs in the bottom of the second and added four more in the third to build a 9–2 cushion.
- The Monarch offense came alive in the fourth inning, plating five runs to pull within two. Junior Blake Freeman sparked the rally with an RBI double, while senior Joey Sweeney and freshman Kade Bell followed with back-to-back RBI knocks. Senior Ethan Golemo capped the inning with a two-run single to trim the deficit to 9–7.
- Keystone added a solo home run in the fifth, but Methodist surged ahead in the sixth with a four-run frame. After Sweeney and Bell reached base and advanced on a sacrifice, junior Austin Rinzel drove them in with a single up the middle. Moments later, junior Brandon Mauger launched a deep drive to center that stayed in the park, but he raced around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park home run, giving the Monarchs an 11–10 lead.
- The Giants responded yet again, scoring three combined runs in the sixth and seventh innings to reclaim a 13–11 advantage.
- In the eighth, Methodist battled back to tie the game. Two of the first four batters reached safely, and a successful double steal moved both runners into scoring position. Freeman delivered once more, ripping his second double of the afternoon to bring home two runs and even the score at 13–13.
- Keystone had the final answer. In the bottom of the eighth, the Giants launched a grand slam to break the tie and ultimately seal the victory.
STAT FACTS
- Freeman and Rinzel each went 3-for-5 at the plate.
- Freeman led the team with three RBIs.
- Golemo, Mauger, and Rinzel recorded two RBIs apiece.
- Both teams finished with 13 RBIs in the contest.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns home to Armstrong-Shelley Field to open a three-game series against Keene State College, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, February 27. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.
