February 26, 2006
27th-ranked Monarchs sweep Christopher Newport in USA South opener
Sorensen picks up two victories; Headen has a combined six hits

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The 27th-ranked Methodist Monarch softball team opened USA South Athletic Conference play and christened the new-and-improved Monarch Field and an 7-1, 6-5 doubleheader sweep over visiting Christopher Newport. Methodist remains undefeated at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the USA South.

Monarch Field has undergone a five-week renovation project leading up to Sunday’s games. The dugouts have been doubled in size, the press box was replaced and the chain-linked fence backstop was replaced by a concrete version with a rise net. All of that was in place for the Monarchs on Sunday.

Methodist broke open a scoreless tie in game one with four runs in the fourth inning. The Monarchs scored the first two runs on two Christopher Newport errors, followed by a two-run single to right field by Amy Faucette.

After Christopher Newport scored its lone run in the fourth, Methodist broke it open with three runs in the sixth. LaTiana Headen drilled a two-run triple to left field, and then she scored on Candace Hudgins’ RBI single.

Headen went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs for Methodist in game one, while Hudgins went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jennifer Sorensen improved to 2-0 overall, scattering six hits with six strikeouts in six innings of work. C.J. McQueen went 2-for-4 for Christopher Newport, and Melanie Hose went 2-for-3.

Methodist had a 3-0 lead in game two thanks to a three-run third inning. However, Christopher Newport tied it in the fifth with three runs with two outs. Hannah Brown had an RBI single, while C.J. McQueen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Katie Moyers scored the tying run on a Methodist error.

But Methodist retook the lead with a three-run sixth. Faucette gave the Monarchs the lead with a two-run single to right field, and later scored on Adrienne Acosta’s sacrifice fly to left field. Christopher Newport trimmed the lead to 6-5 with two runs in the ninth, but Sorensen closed the door for her second victory of the day.

Faucette went 2-for-3 for the Monarchs with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Headen went 2-for-4 with a run scored. McQueen paced Christopher Newport (1-3, 1-3), going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

Methodist plays in the Atlantic vs. East Challenge at Virginia Wesleyan on Friday and Saturday.