FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. The Methodist softball team delivered a pair of dramatic finishes Saturday afternoon, earning two USA South victories over Brevard College in walk-off fashion. The Monarchs claimed Game One 5–4 before securing an 11–3 run-rule victory in six innings in Game Two at Price Field.
THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Methodist def. Brevard, 5–4; Methodist def. Brevard, 11–3 (6 Inn.)
Records: Methodist 8–20 (4–4 USA South); Brevard 11–17 (3–7 USA South)
Location: Price Field; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 1
- Both teams struck early, scoring two runs apiece in the opening inning to make it 2–2. Methodist's offense got off to a quick start as the first four Monarch batters recorded hits, highlighted by RBI doubles from Alyssa Rivas and Rachel Lawson.
- After several scoreless innings, Rachel Blanchard broke the tie in the fourth inning, launching a solo home run to give the Monarchs a 3–2 advantage.
- The score remained unchanged until the seventh inning when Brevard used a pair of doubles to plate two runs and take a 4–3 lead.
- Methodist responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Kealey Wade led off with a double and later scored on an RBI double from Hannah Lovick, tying the game at 4–4. Two batters later, Rivas delivered the game-winner, smashing her second double of the afternoon over the right fielder's head to bring Lovick home and seal the 5–4 walk-off victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game 2
- Methodist once again struck first, scoring a run in the opening inning to take an early 1–0 lead. After reaching on an error and advancing on a sacrifice bunt and single, the runner scored when Lawson lifted a sacrifice fly.
- Brevard evened the score in the second inning, but the Monarchs answered with a four-run third inning to pull ahead 5–1. Haley Downes began the rally with a walk and stolen base before scoring on an RBI single from Rivas. Methodist added another run on a successful double steal before Dakota Putman drove in a run with a base hit. Putman later scored on an RBI double by Blanchard.
- The Tornados trimmed the deficit to 5–2 in the fourth inning before Methodist extended its lead to 7–2 in the fifth thanks to another double steal and an RBI single by Lovick.
- Brevard plated a run in the sixth to make it 7–3, but the Monarchs responded with a four-run bottom half to trigger the run rule. After loading the bases, Wade recorded a sacrifice fly before Blanchard capped the game with her second home run of the day, a three-run blast that secured the 11–3 victory.
NUMBERS
- It was a big day for the Monarchs' Rachel duo. Blanchard finished 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, and five RBIs, while Lawson went 5-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs. Lawson's two doubles in Game One also marked a career high.
- Rivas recorded two hits in each game and totaled three RBIs, while Lovick also tallied a hit in both contests.
- On the mound, Kiersten Margoupis earned the Game One victory after pitching all seven innings, while Mia Wraight secured the Game Two win after tossing 5.1 innings.
UP NEXT
Methodist begins a four-game road stretch on Tuesday, April 7, traveling to Meredith College for a USA South doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 PM, with Game Two set for 4 PM.
