February 24, 2008
Monarchs Open the Season With Two Wins at Guilford
Junior Kayla Talbert blasted a 2-out grand slam in game one

GREENSBORO, NC- The Monarchs won two games in just ten innings played as they opened the 2008 season at Guilford College. Methodist won 11-2 and 12-3 as they jumped out to a 2-0 start. Guilford moves to 3-2-1 this season.

Senior Rebekah Kelly started things off for Methodist with a triple to right field in the top of the first inning. Freshman Ashley Guman followed up with a double to center to score Kelly for the 1-0 lead. Methodist loaded the bases on three walks with two outs in the top of the third when junior Kayla Talbert hit a grand slam and gave the Monarchs a 6-0 cushion. Guilford struck back in the bottom of the inning on three hits and two Methodist errors, but the Monarchs rebounded in the fourth inning. Kelly walked and Guman reached first on an error to move Kelly to second. Sophomore Megan Hutson hit a 3-run home run for the Monarchs. A single from Guman in the fifth scored two runs followed up by sophomore Crystal Metzger's bases loaded hit by pitch to score Guman.

Junior Lesley Hewitt earned the 11-2 win on the mound pitching all five innings for Methodist and only allowing one earned run on six hits.

The Monarchs came up empty in the first inning, but junior Sara Poling led off the top of the second reaching on a Guilford error. Poling moved to second on a wild pitch where sophomore Bethany Thurston entered as a pinch runner. Freshman Kayla McLean walked and Talbert hit a single through the left side advancing both runners. Junior Caline Daun pinch ran for McLean and Metzger's fielder's choice left bases loaded with one out. Freshman Darci Martin's fielder's choice scored Daun and junior Jennifer Brophy reached base on an error that scored Metzger and Talbert. Kelly then hit a sacrifice fly to score Martin. The Quakers scored a run in the bottom of the second on three hits but the Monarchs led 4-1 heading into the third inning.

Guilford cut the Monarchs' lead to one on a 2-run home run in the bottom of the third, but Methodist rattled off six runs in the top of the fourth on five hits including a 2-run double from Guman. The Monarchs added two runs in the fifth on a 2-run home run from freshman Hannah Stutts. Sophomore Emily Beck pitched two and a third innings while Stutts finished the game in the circle. Methodist took the 12-3 win for their second of the season.

The Monarchs will compete at the Virginia Wesleyan Tournament next weekend against Moravian, Louisiana, Frostburg and York.

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score