FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. With a pair of victories on Saturday, the Methodist softball team is 2–0 to start conference play for the second straight season. The Monarchs extended their streak to five consecutive wins against Mary Baldwin University, beating the Fighting Squirrels in eight out of the last 10 matchups between the two teams.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 6–2; Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 8–0 (5 Inn.)
Records: Methodist 6–14 (2–0 USA South); Mary Baldwin 4–14 (0–2 USA South)
Location: Price Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 1
- The Fighting Squirrels scored first, taking a 1–0 lead in the top of the second. In the bottom of the fourth, Methodist's offense kicked in, scoring four runs on five hits. With two outs and bases loaded, Alyssa Rivas singled up the middle to drive home two runs. Next was Rachel Lawson, who also singled up the middle to bring a run in. Rivas was able to score on an error following the next at-bat, making the score 4–1.
- Rivas produced another RBI in the sixth inning, scoring Haley Downes from second base. With bases loaded, Minnie Johnson put the ball in play to bring Dakota Putman across the plate for a 6–1 lead.
- Mary Baldwin scored one run in the top of the sixth and put two more runners on base, but with the tying run on deck, the Monarchs were able to get the final out they needed. Kiersten Margoupis pitched the complete seven innings, striking out six batters along the way.
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 2
- With Bailey Bettencourt in the circle for Methodist, the Fighting Squirrels went three up, three down in the top of the first. The Monarchs were held scoreless in the bottom of the inning, then took advantage of a bases loaded situation in the second inning, when Rachel Blanchard produced a sacrifice fly to drive home Reilly Howell from third.
- Things were quiet offensively until the bottom of the fifth, when the Monarchs caught fire. With two runners on, Rivas doubled to left field to score one, then a Lawson double to left-center field sent two more Monarchs across home plate to make the score 4–0. Following a pitching change, Howell and Johnson both reached first to load the bases. A wild pitch scored, Lawson from third to put Methodist up by five, then Bettencourt walked so that the bags would be full once again. Kalea Parcher launched a sacrifice fly during her pinch hitting opportunity, then Blanchard blasted a double to right-center field that scored two more, making the score 8–0 and giving Methodist a mercy-rule win in five innings.
NUMBERS
- Rivas was 4-for-7 on the day with four RBI and two runs scored, while Howell reached base a team-best five times with three walks between the two games.
- Blanchard recorded a double in each game, marking three games in a row that the senior has produced a double.
UP NEXT
Methodist takes on William Peace University next, traveling to Raleigh on Saturday, March 28 for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
