BREVARD, N.C. The Methodist baseball team opened its USA South weekend series with a high-scoring 15–10 victory over Brevard College on Saturday at Gil Coan Field before weather forced the second game of the doubleheader into a suspension.
The second game began with Methodist taking an early 1–0 lead in the top of the first. However, a thunderstorm in the western part of the state caused a delay and eventually suspended the game.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Brevard, 15–10
Records: Methodist 7–11 (3–1 USA South), Brevard 13–7 (2–2 USA South)
Location: Gil Coan Field, Brevard, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Monarchs struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity as senior Ethan Golemo delivered a two-RBI single to give Methodist a 2–0 advantage.
- Brevard responded quickly, tying the game on a two-run home run by Davis Anders in the first inning before taking a 4–2 lead in the second with RBI hits from Nico Bartolotti and Anders.
- Methodist answered in a big way in the third inning, erupting for six runs to regain control. Jackson Kuhn sparked the rally with an RBI triple, while a pair of Tornado errors contributed to the scoring. Kade Bell added a sacrifice fly, and Brandon Mauger and Israel Ortiz each drove in runs to cap the inning and give the Monarchs an 8–4 lead.
- The Monarchs continued to apply pressure in the fifth inning, plating five more runs. Golemo once again delivered in a bases-loaded situation with a two-RBI single, while Bronson Shaikh added a two-run hit. Bell and Austin Rinzel followed with RBI singles to extend the lead to 13–4.
- After Brevard got a run back on a solo home run by Gavin McCoy in the fifth, Methodist added another in the sixth when Blake Freeman doubled home a run to push the advantage to 14–5.
- The Tornados mounted a late push in the eighth, scoring five runs to cut the deficit to 14–10. McCoy highlighted the rally with a bases-clearing triple, but the Monarchs limited further damage to maintain the lead.
- Methodist added an insurance run in the ninth inning when Mauger drove in Rinzel with an RBI single, sealing the 15–10 victory.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Golemo paced the offense with a career-high five RBIs.
- Mauger went 4-for-6 at the plate, while Blake Freeman and Bronson Shaikh each recorded three hits.
- Junior Presley Patterson earned the win on the mound, improving to 2–3 after tossing 5.0 innings.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Gil Coan Field on Sunday, March 22, to resume the suspended game at 11 AM, followed by the regularly scheduled contest 30 minutes after its conclusion.
