Baseball | 3/20/2009 1:43:38 AM
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Monarchs battled a late night and steady rain to come up with a 12-11 win over Montclair State in five innings.
The Red Hawks (3-6) took the early lead with three runs on five hits in the first inning. Methodist (16-5) cut into the lead with a run in the first after a lead-off double from
Shawn Lovette and a single from
Tripp Lancaster. The Monarchs tied the game in the bottom of the second after
Brian Halpin drew the walk and
Philip Betterly was hit by a pitch. Both runners scored on an error.
Montclair State regained the lead with three runs in the third, but the Monarchs managed seven runs in the bottom of the inning on just one hit. Halpin had a sacrifice fly and Methodist runners capitalized on defensive errors before Lancaster hit a two-RBI triple. The Monarchs were ahead 10-6 after three, but the Red Hawks scored two in the fourth and three in the fifth to lead 11-10 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
At this point, steady rain had been falling for nearly two hours and puddles were forming along the base paths. The game had originally been scheduled for 4 pm and moved to 7:30 pm to accommodate Montclair State's game at Averett earlier in the day. The first game went to extra innings delaying the Red Hawks arrival and pushing the Monarchs' game to 10 pm.
With the Monarchs trailing by a run in the bottom of the fifth at 1 am, Lancaster drew a walk and stole second.
Mike Twichell pinch hit with two outs and also reached on a walk. Methodist pitcher
Landon Jordan entered as a pinch runner on first in his first collegiate appearance on the bases.
Trey Such had yet to reach base previously, but with a full count hit a single to the gap in right center allowing Lancaster to score and Jordan to slide in before the tag scoring the game-winning run.
Lancaster finished 2-for-3 with two RBI on the night while Such and Lovette picked up the only other Methodist hits.
Elliott Bisplinghoff went two and a third innings on the mound with three strikeouts scattering nine hits while
Kurt Kelly and
Rusty White came on in relief.
Matt Partin finished out the fifth to earn the win.
The Monarchs will host N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday at 1 pm.
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