RC Drops a Pair in Season Opening Doubleheader

Will Salva
Will Salva

The Basics

Score: Methodist 7, Roanoke 4,
Records: Roanoke 0-1 | Methodist 1-0
Location: Fayetteville, N.C.

The Lead: Methodist used a four run fourth inning to help pick up a 7-4 win over Roanoke in the first game of the season for both teams.

How it Happened

  • Roanoke loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning before Will Merriken was walked to plate Scott Ellis and give RC a 1-0 lead.
  • The next batter Gavin Kandrick was hit by a pitch that allowed Will Salva to score and make it a 2-0 game.
  • Methodist came right back in the home half of the first inning getting a pair of runs on an RBI double by Alex Kachler and an RBI single Tucker Criswell.
  • The Monarchs were able to score four runs on just one hit in the fourth inning, using a sacrifice bunt, two bases loaded walks and sacrifice fly to take a 6-2 lead.
  • With two outs in the RC fifth inning, Sam Watson singled and went to second on a Will Salva single. Jack Howard would single to load the bases before Merriken delivered a single to score Watson and Salva to make it a 6-4 game.
  • MU got one run back in the sixth inning when Ethan Carmack led off with a solo homerun.
  • Roanoke would load the bases with no outs in the bottom half of the ninth inning but Thomas Dean was able to pitch himself out of the jam and preserve the victory for Methodist.
  • Will Walker got the win after going four innings in relief for MU. Forrest Wagner took the loss for RC after giving up four runs in 1.1 innings of work.
  • Ellis, Salva and Merriken all finished with two hits for Roanoke.

The Basics

Score: Methodist 8, Roanoke 7
Records: Roanoke 0-2 | Methodist 2-0
Location: Fayetteville, N.C.

The Lead: Roanoke rallied from a six-run deficit but dropped an 8-7 decision to Methodist to close out the doubleheader.  

How it Happened

  • Methodist scored a pair of runs in the second inning and four in the third to lead 6-0 early.
  • In the Roanoke fourth inning, the Maroons loaded the bases with no outs and Kandrick singled to score Salva and get RC on the board.  Cody Shell then followed with a single of his own to score Jack Howard and make it a 6-2 game.
  • RC again loaded the bases in the fifth inning, this time with one out. Scott Ellis would score on a wild pitch to make it 6-4 and Kandrick singled to plate Salva and Howard to pull RC to within one at 6-5.
  • Methodist tacked on a run in the bottom half of the sixth inning on a Criswell RBI single that made it 7-5.
  • Roanoke rallied in the top half of the eighth inning scoring a pair of runs on a Watson fielder's choice and a Salva RBI single that tied the game 7-7.
  • Methodist pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth to go up 8-7. RC put runners on first and second in the ninth inning with one out but Tristen Luck was able to secure the final two outs to seal the win for the Monarchs.
  • Salva finished with three hits for RC, while Kandrick and Shell each had a pair.

Up Next: Roanoke is back in action on Feb. 16 at home against Messiah. Game time is slated for Noon.