BUENA VISTA, Va. & FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The Methodist softball team won three of its four games this past weekend, splitting a USA South doubleheader at Southern Virginia University on Saturday before returning home to sweep Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte on Sunday at Price Field.
THE ESSENTIALS
Saturday Final scores: Methodist def. Southern Virginia, 5–3; Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 3–1
Sunday Final scores: Methodist def. Johnson & Wales, 6–1; Methodist def. Johnson & Wales, 11–2 (% Inn.)
Records: Methodist 11–23 (5–7 USA South); Southern Virginia 10–18 (5–5 USA South); Johnson & Wales 6–24
Location: Harvey-Dryden Field; Buena Vista, Virginia & Price Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1 vs. Southern Virginia
- Both teams were held scoreless until the fifth inning when Methodist broke through with three runs to take a 3–0 lead. With runners in scoring position, junior Rachel Lawson laid down a sacrifice bunt that Southern Virginia's defense mishandled, allowing the first run to score. The next two batters, Kealey Wade and Rachel Blanchard, each drove in a run to extend the Monarchs' lead.
- The Knights responded with a run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 3–1.
- In the seventh inning, junior Reilly Howell led off with a double and later scored on a Southern Virginia error after being replaced by a pinch runner. Blanchard then added a solo home run to push Methodist's advantage to 5–1.
- Southern Virginia threatened in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer to make it 5–3, but the Monarchs secured the final out to seal the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2 vs. Southern Virginia
- Southern Virginia jumped ahead early in the second game, blasting a three-run home run in the opening inning to take a 3–0 lead.
- Methodist struggled to generate offense throughout the contest, managing its lone run in the sixth inning when senior Alyssa Rivas drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1 vs. Johnson & Wales
- Johnson & Wales struck first in the second inning to take a 1–0 lead, but it proved to be the Wildcats' only run of the game as Methodist answered with six unanswered runs.
- The Monarchs took control in the bottom of the second inning when Lawson delivered a two-run single down the left-field line to give Methodist a 2–1 lead.
- Freshman Ella Poulk added a run on a sacrifice fly in the third inning before Methodist put the game away in the fifth. Poulk drove in a run with an RBI single, Rivas followed with an RBI double, and she later scored on a wild pitch to complete the 6–1 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2 vs. Johnson & Wales
- Methodist wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the Game Two, plating four runs in the first inning. After three of the first four batters reached base, Haley Downes, Bailey Bettencourt, and Wade each drove in a run while a Johnson & Wales error allowed another run to score.
- The Monarchs added two more runs in the second inning to take a 6–0 lead. Poulk reached base before Rivas doubled her home and later scored on a base hit by junior Minnie Johnson.
- Johnson & Wales responded with two runs in the third inning, but Methodist answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half. Back-to-back doubles by senior Hannah Lovick and Poulk started the rally before Rivas added an RBI to make it 9–2.
- Additional RBIs from Blanchard and Lovick in the fourth inning extended the lead, allowing the Monarchs to secure the run-rule victory in five innings.
NUMBERS
- Lovick was the only Monarch to record a hit in all four games during the weekend.
- Rivas led Methodist with four RBIs, while Blanchard and Poulk each recorded three.
- Senior Kiersten Margoupis went 2–0 on the weekend, throwing two complete games and striking out eight batters. Sophomore Mia Wraight earned the victory against Johnson & Wales.
UP NEXT
Methodist remains at Price Field on Saturday, April 18, hosting Pfeiffer University for a USA South doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.
