March 24, 2007
Monarchs Split With Peace
Freshman Megan Hutson went 3-for-4 in game one with 4 RBI

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  The Monarchs started strong on Saturday afternoon winning 7-0 over Peace in game one.  The Pacers took game two in a 1-0 shutout with pitcher Lauren Pleasant holding Methodist to just three hits.  The Monarchs move to 18-6 overall and 4-2 in the USA South while Peace stands at 17-10 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

Junior Rebekah Kelly led off in game one with a single up the middle and scored the first run of the game on a double by freshman Megan Hutson.  Freshman pinch runner Bethany Thurston scored on an error by the Pacers' first baseman off of a hard hit ball by Kelly.  The Monarchs scored again in the third with another double by Hutson to score senior Kristie Kennedy.  Peace held the Monarchs in the fourth, but sophomore Kayla Talbert hit a RBI double to left center to score Kennedy in the fifth.  With two outs in the sixth, sophomore Sara Poling singled to right field and stole second before freshman Krista Dillard entered to pinch run.  Kennedy walked and Hutson hit her third double of the day to score Dillard and Kennedy.  Junior Candace Hudgins followed up with a triple down the right field line to score Hutson and take the 7-0 win.  Freshman Emily Beck pitched the complete game for the Monarchs to earn the win.

During game two, it was a battle of the pitchers through the first five with Methodist Lesley Hewitt only allowing three hits and no runs while the Pacers' pitcher Lauren Pleasant held the Monarchs hitless through the first four.  In the bottom of the fifth inning, Methodist finally got two hits from Hutson and Talbert.  Hewitt walked to load the bases, but the Monarchs came up empty.  Beck entered to pitch for Hewitt in the sixth and retired the first three batters with two fly balls and a groundout.  The Monarchs were without a base runner in the sixth, and gave the Pacers the chance to take the lead in the seventh.  Two hits with a sacrifice bunt sandwiched in between gave the Pacers a 1-0 lead.  Hutson led off the bottom of the seventh reaching on an error and Hudgins singled down the left field line to move Hutson to second.  Talbert laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, but the Monarchs couldn't get the tying run.  Pleasant took the 1-0 win for the Pacers.

The Monarchs will travel to Meredith for a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 pm.

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score