April 23, 2006

Methodist drops two to Emory

Hunt and Cornelius record five hits each on the day

 

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  With a potential at large invitation to the national tournament looming in the future, the Methodist baseball team had an opportunity to state their case this weekend with two games with in-region Emory University, currently ranked #9 in the nation. 

Unfortunately for the Monarchs the Emory bats were too hot and Methodist dropped both games 13-3 and 14-11.  With the losses, Methodist falls to 24-15 while Emory improves to 31-7. 

An eight hour and six minute day from start to finish saw a combined forty-one runs, fifty-seven hits, and twenty-one pitchers.  Game one took three hours and twenty five minutes; thirty six minutes shorter than the four hour and one minute nightcap. 

In the first game Emory piled on twenty hits en route to a 13-3 victory.  Justin Gordon led off the game with a double to right center that would be the Eagles only extra base hit followed by nineteen singles off five Methodist pitchers.

The Monarchs scores came in the third when Matt Hunt singled home Michael Carter and in the ninth when Hunt doubled home Brad Davis followed by a Steve Cornelius ground out to scoring Matt Mergo.

Emory blew a 2-1 game open in the top of the fifth with six consecutive singles, scoring four runs.  They added five more in the sixth to take an 11-1 advantage.

Matt Hunt led Methodist at the plate going 3-5 with two RBI. 

Justin Gordon went 4-4 for the Eagles, while Sam Cunningham, Griffin Baum, and Frank Pfister had three hits each. 

Ryan Brandt took the loss for the Monarchs pitching 4 and 1/3 innings.  Jason Glushon got the win for Emory in seven innings of work.

Game two was much more competitive, evident by the fact that Methodist coach Tom Austin and Emory skipper Mike Twardoski used a combined eleven pitchers.

Emory got on board first with a Brandon Custer two run single in the second. 

The Monarchs responded in the bottom of the inning when Michael Carter singled and Brad Davis doubled deep to left center to score Carter from first base.

Methodist then added four more runs in the fourth on four hits to take a 5-2 lead.  The big inning was sparked by a Brad Davis RBI single, a Matt Hunt two run double, and a Steve Cornelius run scoring ground out. 

The see-saw battle would continue as each team would score in their next two innings with Methodist clinging to a 7-5 lead through seven. 

In the eighth Emory finally took the lead scoring five times on six hits off Methodist relievers Kurt Kelly and Casey Varnell to take a 10-7 lead. 

 

Methodist would battle back in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases on successive singles by Hunt, Cornelius, and Matt Mergo.  After Hunt scored on a wild pitch, Scott Russell scored Cornelius on an infield ground out.  However, Kyle Eudy grounded out to leave the Monarch down one 10-9.

 

Emory stayed hot in the ninth, scoring four insurance runs.  The first two on a towering home run by Tim Cournoyer.

Down 14-9 with one at bat left, the Monarchs would not surrender.  Zach Greenhaw and Brad Davis walked, advanced on a fly ball, and scored when Steve Cornelius landed a short fly in front on the center fielder.  Matt Mergo represented the tying run when he flew out to right field to end the Monarchs come back attempt.

 

Kurt Kelly took the loss in relief for the Monarchs.  Rich Babb, also in relief, picked up the win for the Eagles.

Steve Cornelius led the Monarchs at the plate going 4-6 with 3 RBI.  Joe Roth was 4-5 for Emory.

Methodist is off until Friday, May 5th when they take on Salisbury on Senior Day at Shelley Field.  The doubleheader is set to begin at noon.