MISENHEIMER, N.C.  After suffering an 8–2 loss to sixth-seeded Southern Virginia University earlier in the day, the Methodist baseball team responded in emphatic fashion Thursday evening, upsetting second-seeded Pfeiffer University 11–3 to stay alive in the 2026 USA South Tournament at Joe Ferebee Field.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final results: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 8–2; Methodist def. Pfeffer, 11–3
Records: Methodist 19–23, Southern Virginia 13–27, Pfeiffer 21–20
Location: Joe Ferebee Field; Misenheimer, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED – VS SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

• Southern Virginia opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run, but Methodist answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame. Freshman Bronson Shaikh connected on the first home run of his collegiate career to even the score at 1–1 before junior Austin Rinzel followed later in the inning with an RBI single to give the Monarchs a 2–1 advantage.
• The Knights tied the game in the third inning on a sacrifice fly before Methodist's offense cooled off for the remainder of the contest, producing just two hits and three baserunners over the final six innings.
• Southern Virginia regained control in the sixth with a two-run homer before adding another pair of two-run blasts in the ninth inning to secure the 8–2 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED – VS PFEIFFER

• The Monarchs quickly bounced back in the nightcap against second-seeded Pfeiffer.
• After the Falcons grabbed a 1–0 lead in the opening inning, Methodist responded by scoring the next nine runs of the game. Shaikh drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning before the Monarchs took the lead for good in the third.
• Rinzel opened the inning with a double and later scored on a pair of Pfeiffer throwing errors. Moments later, junior Brandon Mauger launched a solo home run to extend the advantage to 3–1.
• Methodist continued to build momentum in the middle innings. RBIs from senior Ethan Golemo and Shaikh in the fifth pushed the lead to 5–1 before senior Israel Ortiz delivered the biggest swing of the night in the sixth, crushing a three-run homer to give the Monarchs an 8–1 cushion.
• Both teams added a run in the eighth inning, including Bran. Mauger's second home run of the evening for Methodist. In the ninth, senior Parker Evans drove in two more runs with a double as the Monarchs closed out the 11–3 upset victory. 

STAT FACTS

• Rinzel recorded two hits in both games.
• Bran. Mauger registered the first multi-home run game of his collegiate career against Pfeiffer.
• Freshman Bryce Mauger earned the win after allowing just one run over six innings against the Falcons while striking out three batters.
• Five different Monarchs recorded multiple hits in the victory over Pfeiffer.

UP NEXT
Methodist continues its USA South Tournament run Friday, May 1, with a rematch against sixth-seeded Southern Virginia. First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM.