March 18, 2006
Skid ends! Monarchs back on winning track with 7-1 victory over Piedmont
Brandt fires complete game five-hitter with six strikeouts

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Both Ryan Brandt and his Methodist Monarch teammates were looking for any way possible for the Monarchs to break an unusual six-game losing skid. They found that way on Saturday as Methodist, behind a stellar performance by Brandt, got back on the winning track with a 7-1 victory over visiting Piedmont at Shelley Field.

The victory improves Methodist to 9-10 overall. It was a reunion of sorts for Piedmont head coach Jim Peeples, who served nine seasons as an assistant at Methodist under head coach Tom Austin before taking over as Piedmont’s head coach in 2002.

The drama centered on Brandt, who was looking to break some inconsistency this season. The senior right-hander responded with a five-hit complete game with three walks and six strikeouts. The victory improved Brandt to 3-2 on the season as he out-dueled Piedmont ace Billy Secor.

For the first five innings, it was a pitcher’s duel between the two hurlers before Methodist broke through with five runs in the sixth. Scott Russell’s two-run single scored Steve Cornelius and Jason Hughes to give the Monarchs a 4-0 lead.

After that, the pressure got to Secor. He hit the Monarchs’ Jonathan Spivey with the bases loaded and two outs for another run, and an error by Lion shortstop Justin Oates plated yet another Methodist run. Finally, Secor’s balk accounted for the last Monarch run of the inning.

Spivey went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored for the Monarchs. He also scored the second Methodist run in the third on a safety squeeze by Cornelius. In addition, Matt Hunt went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Piedmont’s lone run came in the eighth when Walker Searcy scored on a ground out by Travis Hunt. Secor took the loss, allowing eight hits and seven runs in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts.

The two teams conclude the weekend series on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Shelley Field.