February 12, 2006
Methodist opens 2006 baseball season with doubleheader sweep at Flagler
Hunt, Mergo, Weadon have three hits combined for Monarchs

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Starting the 2006 baseball season a day later than originally scheduled didn’t affect the Methodist Monarchs as they opened the new season with a 12-6, 6-4 doubleheader sweep at Flagler on Sunday. It marks the sixth straight season that Methodist has won its season opener.

Methodist used some key hits in the late innings in both games.

In game one, the Monarchs broke open a 6-6 tie with six runs in the top of the ninth inning. Matt Mergo led off the inning with a double to right-center field, and then Jason Hughes and Michael Ellsworth both reached on errors to load the bases with no outs. John Whitaker made the Saints pay with a two-run single to left field to give the Monarchs an 8-6 lead.

After a walk to Brad Davis to load the bases, Mark Weadon laid down a bunt single and an RBI. Jonathan Spivey followed with an RBI double, and Matt Hunt continued the rally with an RBI single to left field. Kyle Eudy finished the scoring with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Spivey.

Spivey went 3-for-5 with and RBI and two runs scored for Methodist, while Whitaker went 2-for-5 with four RBIs. He also added a two-run single in the seventh inning. Mergo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Weadon went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Casey Varnell picked up the victory in relief of starter Ryan Brandt, pitching three-and-a-third scoreless innings with three hits and two strikeouts.

Methodist trailed 3-1 in game two when the Monarchs scored twice in the fifth and three times in the sixth to prevail.

Eudy and Mergo both had RBI singles in the fifth for the Monarchs, while Hunt delivered a two-run single in the sixth and Spivey scored on a wild pitch to give Methodist a 6-3 lead after six innings.

Hunt went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in game two for Methodist, while Spivey and Weadon each scored two runs. Starter Adam Denning picked the victory, scattering seven hits and four runs in six-and-two-thirds innings with five strikeouts. Frankie Nobile recorded the final out in the seventh to record the save.

Methodist plays next on Friday with a 3 p.m. contest at Huntingdon.