 Softball |
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March 26, 2008 FAYETTEVILLE, NC - Methodist took advantage of errors and added crucial hits to win two over Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday. The Monarchs won 1-0 in game won and came from behind to win 8-7 in game two over nine innings. The Monarchs move to 24-4 overall while Virginia Wesleyan is 15-5 this season. Methodist senior Rebekah Kelly hit her second single of the day in the third inning of game one and moved to second on sophomore Megan Hutson's sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Crystal Metzger hit one to the shortstop but it was overthrown at first allowing Kelly to score. The Marlins had runners on second and third in the fifth and another runner on third in the sixth inning but the Monarchs held them scoreless. They put together two hits in the seventh for runners to reach second and third again, but relief pitcher freshman Hannah Stutts fanned the next batter for the final out of the game. Junior Lesley Hewitt earned the win in six and a third innings pitched while Stutts picked up the save. Kelly finished 2-for-3 from the plate. Virginia Wesleyan put together a two-out rally in the top of the first inning of game two to take an early 1-0 lead over Methodist. Kelly led off with a triple in the bottom of the inning but was left stranded. The Marlins scored their second run in the third. Junior Kayla Talbert got the Monarchs started in the fourth inning with a single through the left side. Sophomore Cortney Kerns entered to pinch run and stole second. With two outs, Stutts singled deep to left field allowing Kerns to beat the throw at the plate. Methodist tied the game in the fifth after Kelly led off by reaching on an error. Hutson laid down another sacrifice to move Kelly to second and Kelly scored on the RBI-single from Metzger. With the game tied at two, the Monarchs took the 4-2 lead in the sixth. Junior Sara Poling led off with a single up the middle and freshman Brittany Melton entered to pinch run. Stutts hit a double down the right field line for Melton to advance to third. Sophomore Bethany Thurston came on for Stutts and freshman Darci Martin hit the sacrifice fly for Melton to score. The Marlins picked up their second out and then opted to intentionally walk Kelly. Hutson followed up with a single up the middle to score Thurston for the second run of the inning. The Marlins came back with three runs in the top of the seventh capped off with a home run from Mandy Dixon to take the 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the seventh freshman Jody Eyler reached on an error and freshman Brandi Chandler entered to pinch run. Chandler moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a single from Talbert. Poling reached on an error that scored Chandler to tie the game at five. The Monarchs had opportunities to win the game, but Virginia Wesleyan came up with three force outs. The game went to extra innings with the Marlins scoring first in the eighth on an unearned run. The Monarchs came back with a huge two-out RBI triple from senior Billye Rivas to score Kelly to tie the game at six. Virginia Wesleyan took the lead again in the ninth but the Monarchs battled back again in the bottom of the inning. Talbert was placed on second to start and sophomore Kim Bartlett reached on a throwing error that allowed Talbert to score. Martin followed up with a single down the left field line to score Bartlett for the game-winning run. Freshman Jennie Price earned the win in two and a third innings pitched giving up just two hits. Talbert hit 3-for-5 while Martin went 2-for-4 with two RBI. The Monarchs will host Ferrum on Saturday at 2 pm. |
