FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The Methodist baseball team completed a three-game USA South series sweep of William Peace University on Saturday evening at Armstrong-Shelley Field. The Monarchs rallied from an early deficit to win Game One, 13–9, before securing the series with an 8–1 victory in Game Two.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Methodist def. William Peace, 13–9; Methodist def. William Peace, 8–1
Records: Methodist 15–17 (10–5 USA South), William Peace 12–20 (5–10 USA South)
Location: Armstrong-Shelley Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1
- William Peace jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning as four of the first five batters reached base. The Pacers extended their advantage to 5–0 in the second inning with two more runs on three hits.
- Methodist answered in the bottom of the second with its first runs of the game. After a walk and a William Peace error put runners on base, senior Joey Sweeney delivered a two-run double to cut the deficit to 5–2.
- The Pacers pushed their lead back to five in the third inning, scoring on a double steal before adding another run on an RBI single to make it 7–2.
- The Monarchs' offense exploded in the fourth inning, erupting for 10 runs to take a 12–7 lead. With the bases loaded early in the frame, freshman Kade Bell drove in two runs with a single before junior Brandon Mauger added a two-run double to trim the deficit to one. Later in the inning, junior Blake Freeman gave Methodist its first lead with a two-RBI single that deflected off an infielder's glove. Senior Ethan Golemo followed with a bases-clearing double, and freshman Bronson Shaikh capped the inning with an RBI groundout.
- William Peace scored single runs in the fifth and ninth innings, while the Monarchs added an insurance run in the sixth on an errant throw to secure the 13–9 comeback victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2
- Methodist struck first in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the opening inning to take an early 3–0 lead. Senior Keegan Megaro led off with a triple before scoring on a failed pickoff attempt that also advanced senior Ethan Golemo. Golemo later crossed the plate on a double by freshman Bronson Shaikh, and another William Peace error allowed Shaikh to score.
- The Pacers plated their lone run of the game in the third inning on a wild pitch.
- The Monarchs extended their lead in the fourth inning with three more runs. Junior Brandon Mauger drove in a run with an infield single before senior Israel Ortiz delivered a two-run double to center field to make it 6–1.
- Methodist added two final insurance runs on sacrifice flies by Freeman in the sixth inning and Ortiz in the eighth to close out the 8–1 victory and complete the series sweep.
STAT FACTS
- Golemo led the Monarch offense with four hits on the day, including a perfect 3-for-3 performance in Game One.
- Freeman, Golemo, Mauger, and Ortiz each recorded three RBIs across the doubleheader.
- Freshman Bryce Mauger earned his first collegiate victory in Game One after pitching four innings in relief.
- Senior Dalton Juden picked up his first win as a Monarch in Game Two, tossing five innings while allowing one earned run and striking out a season-high four batters.
UP NEXT
Methodist travels to face nationally ranked Lynchburg on Tuesday, April 14, in a non-conference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
