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May 5, 2006 Methodist splits with Salisbury Brandt records complete game victory; Russell and Eudy lead at the plate and in the field
FAYETTEVILLE,
NC-
Clinging
to
at-large
playoff
selection
hopes
for the
last
three
weeks,
the
Methodist
(25-16)
baseball
team
wanted
another
chance
to state
their
case.
They got
that
chance
Friday
with a
doubleheader
with
visiting
Salisbury
University
(36-7),
the #5
ranked
team in
the
nation.
Methodist
won
easily
in game
one 6-2,
and then
lost a
thriller
in game
two 11-7
in ten
innings.
In game one the Monarchs jumped on the Sea Gulls early en route to a convincing 6-2 victory. Methodist scored twice in their first at bat with some great execution. Matt Hunt walked to get things started. Steve Cornelius doubled to left center to set the table for Senior Matt Mergo. Mergo executed the squeeze scoring Hunt with a head first slide. Scott Russell followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Cornelius. Methodist continued to execute in the second when Michael Carter led off with a base hit up the middle, was advanced with a Jason Hughes sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Brad Davis sacrifice fly. In the third the Monarchs scored once more when Matt Hunt doubled and scored- again diving into home- on a Steve Cornelius groundout. The final Monarch runs came in the fourth when Matt Hunt singled to right center driving in Brad Davis and Jason Hughes. Senior Ryan Brandt saved one of his best performances of the year for Senior Day. Brandt pitched the complete game, scattering eight hits, walking three, and giving up only two runs while striking out seven. The Monarchs were led at the plate by Scott Russell, who went 3-3 with an RBI. Matt Hunt, Michael Carter, and Jason Hughes all had two hits for Methodist. The second game was a see-saw battle that would need extra innings to decide the winner. Salisbury got on the board first with two in the top of the first off Methodist starter Adam Denning. Methodist responded in bottom of the inning when Jonathan Spivey led off with a walk, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a Salisbury throwing error on a Steve Cornelius sacrifice bunt. Methodist tied the game in the second when Kyle Eudy led off with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Salisbury took a 3-2 lead scoring in the third with a Nick Pegelow single. The Monarchs capitalized on a timely three run error in the third. Scott Russell and Kyle Eudy singled and Michael Carter followed with a walk to load the bases. The inning appeared to be over without any damage when Dustin Proctor popped out with two outs to Salisbury second baseman Mark Bostwick. Bostwick dropped the fly in short center field and then over threw the relay to score all three Monarch base runners on the dual error play. After Salisbury scored again in the 4th, Methodist responded when Scott Russell continued his hot hitting ripping a double down the left field line to score Matt Hunt, who reached on a bunt base hit. Salisbury scored again in the sixth, and once more in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. The Monarchs then took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Dustin Proctor reached on an error. Brad Davis successfully advanced Proctor setting the table for the Monarchs top hitter Jonathan Spivey. Spivey delivered in the clutch singling up the middle off second baseman Mark Bostwick’s glove to score Proctor and give Methodist the 7-6 advantage.
However,
Nick
Pegelow
would
not let
the Sea
Gulls go
down
quietly.
The
senior
first
baseman
homered
to right
center
field to
lead off
the
ninth
for
Salisbury
and tie
the game
for the
fourth
time,
this
time at
7-7. Varnell received the loss in relief for the Monarchs. Dan Oleynik was the winner for Salisbury. Kyle Eudy led the Monarchs at the plate going 4-5. Nick Pegelow finished 4-6 for the Sea Gulls. Methodist travels to York on Friday for a doubleheader contest that will be the final regular season games for the Monarchs. |
