FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Scoring a season-high 28 runs, the Methodist baseball team soared to another series win on Sunday, defeating Mary Baldwin University for the second time this weekend. The Monarchs also saw season highs with 21 hits, 13 walks drawn and 27 RBIs recorded.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 28–6
Records: Methodist 10–14 (6–3 USA South), Mary Baldwin 5–17 (3–6 USA South)
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sean Jennison kept the Fighting Squirrels at bay in the first two innings, allowing just one hit in each frame while conceding no runs. Methodist plated four runs in the first inning with
Israel Ortiz logging a sacrifice fly,
Ethan Golemo recording a 2 RBI triple, and
Parker Evans producing an RBI single. In the second,
Austin Rinzel scored on a throwing error by the catcher, then three more runs crossed home on a big blast by
Jackson Kuhn — the first home run of his collegiate career.
The Fighting Squirrels answered with a four piece in the top of the third, including a three-run homer of their own to make the score 8–4, but Methodist's response was even stronger. Six runs were registered this time for the Monarchs: two on a double by
Brandon Mauger, two on a double by Kuhn, and two on a single by Evans.
With a 14–4 lead in hand, the Monarchs nearly doubled their run total in the fourth inning, sending 11 batters for a full trip around the bases.
Bryce Mauger tallied two RBIs in the fifth, then
Connor May made the most of his appearance with an RBI in the sixth to give Methodist its 28th run of the ballgame.
STAT FACTS
With a career-high seven RBIs on the day, Kuhn finished one shy of tying the single-game program record.
Rinzel totaled a career-best five runs scored on the day, also coming up one short of tying the program record. He recorded four hits and two walks, boosting his on-base percentage to .585 on the season.
With plenty of run support,
Sean Jennison got credit for the win after tossing four of the seven innings for Methodist. The freshman is now 3–0 in four starts.
UP NEXT
Methodist travels to take on Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia on Tuesday, March 31. The non-conference contest is set to begin at 3 p.m.
