Posted: Feb 06, 2012
Jacob Clifton led the Maroons offensively for the weekend, going 5-of-11 (.455) with two RBI. Mark Manthe collected four hits, including a home run and three RBI. Ben Amos had three hits, including a double with one RBI and two runs scored.
After scoring two runs in each of the first two innings of game one, the Monarch offense exploded in the fifth inning, scoring five runs as 10 hitters entered the batter's box in the inning.
In the twin bill, Methodist's offense picked up where it left off, scoring two runs in the first inning. Quick would steal home for the first run with Such later crossing the plate when Dustin Brown was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Later in the third, the Monarchs would add another run, this time Such scoring off a double by Chris Power.
The Maroons made it interesting late in the seven-inning contest with two runs in the sixth. Clifton would drive in two runs with the bases loaded off of Womble. Methodist would respond by adding a needed insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Molosky singled home Power for the fourth and final tally.
Womble earned the victory after allowing two runs on seven hits through six innings with eight strikeouts. Josh Ayers pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn the first save of the season.
Jacob McMillan (0-1) went three innings, giving up three runs and walking four Monarchs with one strikeout on the day. Tyler Grouten, the 2011 All-ODAC Selection, went two innings in middle relief with one strikeout in his first game back from recovering from a knee injury in the off-season.
The Methodist baseball team led 5-0 after four innings and held off a late rally from Roanoke to win 5-4 and complete the three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon.
Roanoke enjoyed a big fifth inning which included a three-run homer by Manthe to highlight the rally, his first of the year. The Maroons strung together three hits and capitalized on a Methodist error to cut the lead to one, but Methodist's Rett Lee entered in relief to end the threat. Both teams had just one hit apiece through the remaining three innings as the Monarchs held on for the 5-4 win.
Mark Wimmer (0-1) took the loss for Roanoke, going 3.2 innings with three strikeouts, more than any Maroon pitcher on the weekend. Zack Folger went 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball in relief, allowing one hit, one walk while striking out one.
The men will host in-state foe, Ferrum College in non-conference action, taking on their second USA-South opponent of the year. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Kiwanis Field in the Maroons home-opener.
