 Baseball |
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April 23, 2008 BIRMINGHAM, AL - Methodist University head baseball coach Tom Austin entered the 2008 season ranked fourth in victories by active Division III coaches. He needed 26 wins to earn his 900th career win and it wasn't easy, but the Monarchs won 12-11 in extra innings over Birmingham-Southern for the milestone victory. Methodist dropped the second game 6-3 to move to 26-15-1 on the season. Birmingham-Southern moves to 20-21 this year. The Monarchs traveled to Birmingham-Southern for two seven-inning games on Wednesday. The Panthers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a two-out home run, but Methodist scored the next six runs. In the top of the second, junior Brad Davis led off with a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error. Senior Kyle Eudy laid down the sacrifice bunt for Davis to score the tying run. The Monarchs scored five runs in the third inning capped off by a two-run home run by junior Dustin Proctor. Birmingham-Southern cut the lead to one in the fourth with four runs after two Methodist errors before a three-run home run. Methodist went up 7-5 in the fifth after a leadoff double from sophomore Seth Kivett and two sacrifice bunts. The Panthers added another four runs in the sixth to take the lead on a bases loaded triple. The Monarchs came back and tied the game in the top of the seventh. Birmingham-Southern left two runners on in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Both teams scored two runs in the eighth inning before the Monarchs scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth after a RBI single from Scott Russell scored Lancaster. Freshman Jason Ridenhour earned the win in relief while sophomore Josh Andrade picked up the save. In game two, both teams scored two runs a piece in the third inning. Russell was hit by a pitch and Kivett hit a two-run home run to give the Monarchs a 2-0 lead, but the Panthers put together three hits to tie the game at two. Methodist took the 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth after Davis led off with a single. He advanced to second on Eudy's sacrifice and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Senior Michael Carter's sacrifice bunt scored Davis. Birmingham-Southern came right back with four runs in the bottom of the inning on six hits for the 6-3 advantage. Carter drew a walk in the top of the seventh and sophomore Brian Halpin singled through the right side to move Carter into scoring position but the Monarchs could not get another run across for the Panthers to take the 6-3 win. Sophomore Landon Jordan took the loss for the Monarchs while freshman Jacob Evans gave up just one hit in 2.2 innings pitched. The Monarchs will host Piedmont May 5th at 7 pm. Game
1 Box Score Photo by Patrick Sinclair |
