 Softball |
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March 18, 2008 GREENSBORO, NC - The Methodist Monarchs traveled to Greensboro College Tuesday to open USA South play against the Pride. Methodist won game one 4-2 before taking game two 9-1 in five innings. The Monarchs move to 18-4 overall and 2-0 in the USA South while Greensboro moves to 9-7-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference. Greensboro scored first in the bottom of the second inning after a triple drove in the first run of the game and a double scored the second run. Methodist cut the lead to one in the third after freshman Tabatha Stephenson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. The next two batters popped up and flied out, but sophomore Crystal Metzger kept things going with a single. Stephenson advanced to second and scored on a single from freshman Jody Eyler. Freshman Hannah Stutts led off the fourth with a single and junior Caline Daun entered to run. Junior Sara Poling sacrificed Daun to second with the bunt and Daun scored the tying run on a misplay by the Greensboro defense on freshman Darci Martin's hit to the second baseman. In the top of the sixth inning and the game still tied, Stutts reached on an error and Poling walked. Sophomore Cortney Kerns entered for Stutts and freshman Brittany Melton came on for Poling. Greensboro looked to close out the rally with consecutive strikeouts but senior Rebekah Kelly came up big with a triple for both runners to score giving Methodist the 4-2 lead. Starting pitcher junior Lesley Hewitt shut down the Pride in the sixth and sophomore Emily Beck finished them off in the seventh with two strikeouts and a ground out for the save. Eyler finished 3-for-4 from the plate while Kelly went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Kelly started things off in game two with another triple. Scoring on a passed ball, the Monarchs took an early 1-0 lead. Greensboro countered with a run in the bottom of the first on three hits but Stutts shut the Pride down for the remainder of the game allowing just one hit in the other four innings. The Monarchs took the lead in the second inning after Stutts and Martin walked. Daun came on to run for Stutts and both Daun and Martin were able to score on a double by Kelly. In the third inning, junior Kayla Talbert singled and Stutts sacrificed her to second. Poling hit the double to score Talbert for the 4-1 lead after three innings. In the fourth Kelly hit another triple and sophomore Megan Hutson singled to score Kelly. Metzger reached on a fielder's choice, but Hutson was safe on an error. Eyler grounded out but both runners advanced. Talbert hit a double to score Hutson and Metzger. Pinch hitter freshman Kayla McLean drew the walk in the fifth and Stephenson came back into run. Kelly hit her third triple in the game, fourth of the day to score Stephenson and then Hutson finished with the sacrifice fly for the 9-1 lead. The Methodist defense recorded the final three outs for the win. Kelly finished 4-for-4 with three triples and a double to go with three RBI. Hutson and Talbert each recorded two RBI. The Monarchs will host Averett on Friday at 12 pm. |
