March 7, 2006
Another split for 27th-ranked Monarchs at Sun West Tournament
Methodist routs DeSales 9-0, falls 2-0 to third-ranked Chapman

ORANGE, Calif. – For the second straight day, the 27th-ranked Methodist Monarch softball team recorded a two-game split at the prestigious Sun West Tournament. The Monarchs opened with a 9-0 rout over DeSales in their first game on Tuesday, but then dropped a 2-0 pitcher’s duel against third-ranked Chapman in the nightcap.

Methodist is now 10-2 overall with the split.

Jennifer Brophy and Jessica Hutzul combined for a two-hit shutout for Methodist against DeSales, and the Monarchs played long-ball with three home runs.

Candace Hudgins launched a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Monarchs a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, Caryn Moreland led off with a solo home run, and then Kristen Kennedy blasted a three-run shot as Methodist broke the game open with six runs in the fourth.

Kennedy went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Amy Faucette went 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the second. Rebekah Kelly went 2-for-3, and LaTiana Headen went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in the fourth. Brophy went four innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts to pick up the victory.

The Methodist-Chapman showdown was a match-up of All-American hopefuls on the mound. In this game, however, Chapman’s Jennifer Winford out-dueled Methodist’s Jennifer Sorensen. Winford fired a four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts, while Sorensen scattered seven hits and two runs with two walks and two strikeouts.

Chapman took a 1-0 lead in the third on a solo home run by Kim Sanders, and then added an important insurance run in the fourth on an RBI double by Erin Dubzinski. Methodist’s best hope to score was in the seventh when the Monarchs had runners on second and third with two outs, by Kayla Talbert grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

Methodist is off on Wednesday, and then returns to action in the Sun West Tournament on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. (PST) against New York Tech and at 5:45 p.m. (PST) against Harris-Stowe.