Posted: Feb 27, 2011
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Roanoke came out swinging and jumped on the Monarchs to earn 13-1 and 13-5 victories on Sunday in non-conference action to complete their weekend in North Carolina. The Maroons are now 6-2 on the season, while the Monarchs dropped to 5-5.
The Maroons put together four hits for three runs in the first and rattled off another four hits including a grand slam from Lisa Scruggs to lead 8-0 after two innings. Two runs in the third, a run in the fourth put Roanoke up 11-0. Scruggs' round tripper moved her into 10th on the all-time home run list at Roanoke.
The Monarchs tacked on a run in the fifth, but Roanoke was too much, as the Maroons scored a run in all five innings played as the game was called early due to the run rule.
Scruggs finished the game 3-for-4 with a double in addition to her grand slam and three runs scored. Leona Rainey went 3-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases. Hollee Warlitner also went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and four RBI. Alea Bier was 3-for-3 with three runs and drove in three for the Maroons.
Lis Norwich (1-1) earned her first win of the season, pitching a complete game while allowing a single run. She tied Meaghan Cookston '01 for 10th on the career wins list at Roanoke.
Rachel Chapman was 2-for-2 at the plate for the Monarchs. Brandi Weaver took the loss while Candace Piner and Chelsie Keene finished in relief.
It looked like it would be Methodist's turn in game two when the Monarchs scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first. The Monarchs added three runs in the second and led Roanoke, 5-1 after five innings of play. The Maroons had bases loaded in the first, second and fourth innings, but MU's Alex Bass pitched the Monarchs out of the jams.
Roanoke scored three unearned runs in the sixth to cut the lead to one before things started to unwind in the seventh for Methodist. The Maroons scored two quick runs to take the lead and finished their late scoring barrage with a nine-run inning and held on for the win. RC scored 12 runs in its final two at bats.
Gretchen Wolfe (1-1) earned the win in relief, going 6.2 innings with four strikeouts. Sara Caudle finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and three RBI. Bier went 2-for-4 with two runs and two runs batted in. Norwich and Scruggs collected two hits each while Rainey drew three walks and stole two bases in the come-from-behind win. She now has 36 stolen bases for her career which ties her with Jessica Zeman '10 for fifth all-time.
Jordan Adams and Katie Byrd finished 3-for-4 at the plate while Bass and Chapman went 2-for-4. Bass took the loss for Methodist pitching six innings with six strikeouts.
The women are back on the road next weekend as they go to Virginia Beach to compete in the Beach Blast Tournament on March 4-5.
