March 19, 2006
Monarchs sweep Piedmont with impressive 15-7 victory
Austin improves to 6-1 against former assistant as Methodist evens at 10-10

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – After enduring a recent six-game losing streak, the Methodist Monarch baseball team is now back in familiar territory with a winning streak. The Monarchs finished off a weekend sweep over visiting Piedmont on Sunday, downing the Lions 15-7 at Shelley Field. The victory evens Methodist at 10-10 overall.

It also gave veteran Methodist head coach Tom Austin another victory over his former assistant, Piedmont head coach Jim Peeples. Austin is now 6-1 head-to-head against Peeples, who served as Austin’s top aide from 1992-2001.

Methodist brought the offense on Sunday, blistering Piedmont pitching with a season-high 17 hits. In fact, the Monarchs scored at least a run in each inning except the sixth with a run each in the first, second and the eighth, two runs in the third, three runs in both the fourth and fifth and four runs in the seventh.

Five Methodist players had multiple-hit games. Sophomore second baseman Kyle Eudy paced the Monarchs, going a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored with an RBI single in the fifth. Prior to this week, Eudy was struggling on the season, hitting .190, but in the last three games he is hitting a blistering .750 with five runs scored.

In addition to Eudy, junior centerfielder Matt Hunt went 3-for-6 with five RBIs and two runs scored for Methodist. He nailed a two-run double in the fifth to give the Monarchs a 10-3 lead. Michael Carter and Zach Greenhaw both went 2-for-3, while Dustin Proctor went 2-for-5. Brad Davis scored three runs for the Monarchs, followed by Carter and Steve Cornelius with two runs each.

Casey Varnell was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Adam Denning.

For Piedmont (11-8), Travis Hunt went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Blake Albertson, Mike Santowski and Evan Nissley each went 2-for-4. Ian McClary was the losing pitcher, allowing six hits and seven runs in three-and-two-thirds innings.

Methodist plays host to Maryville on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.