February 25, 2006
Ferrum spoils Monarchs’ USA South opener with 15-9 victory
Brandt takes defeat game one for Methodist; game two suspended in the sixth

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Saturday’s much-anticipated doubleheader against rival Ferrum didn’t go as planned for the Methodist Monarch baseball, at least in the first game. Ferrum pounded out 18 hits in game one to 1in 15-9 in the USA South Athletic Conference opener for both teams at Shelley Field. In addition, the Panthers held a 7-1 lead through six innings in game two when it was halted because of darkness.

Senior Ryan Brandt took the defeat in game one for Methodist, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in four innings. First baseman Alex Stover did most of the damage with a solo home run in the second inning and a three-run home run to right field in third to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead.

Ferrum increased the lead to 8-0 in the fourth as John Sain laced an RBI single to left field and Brett Thomas followed with a two-run double to centerfield. The Panthers added two more runs in the eighth and four in the ninth. Sain drilled a two-run double in the ninth, while Luke Mitchell had an RBI single.

Methodist broke through with its first run in the sixth, followed by three runs in the seventh and five in the ninth on a last-chance rally.

Michael Carter delivered an RBI single to left in the seventh, and then scored when Mike Redman reached on a Panther error. In the ninth, Jonathan Spivey and Brad Davis had back-to-back doubles which accounted to two runs, while Kyle Eudy and Steve Cornelius provided RBI singles.

Spivey went 2-for-4 for Methodist with two runs scored, while Carter went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Cornelius and shortstop Scott Russell also went 2-for-5.

For Ferrum, Sain went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored, followed by Stover going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and five RBIs. Joshua Tuck went 3-for-5, while Thomas went 2-for-5 and Travis Hundley went 2-for-6. Ryan Cooper was the winning pitcher, surrendering five hits and four runs in seven innings.

The two teams will continue the suspended game on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Shelley Field, followed immediately by the third and final game of the series.