FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - No. 19 Methodist swept a USA South doubleheader from LaGrange on Sunday at Armstrong-Shelley Field. The Monarchs came from behind to win the first game 5-3 and completed the sweep with a 4-0 win in the second game.
The Panthers are now 13-24 overall and 12-14 in conference play. Methodist clinched the conference title in improving to 31-8 on the season and 23-6 in the conference.
The Panthers built a 3-0 lead after two innings in the first game. Jim Reed led off the game with a single and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Cain Sauls drove in Reed with a base hit to right for a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Panthers strung together three straight hits by Keith Sims, Jackson Patrick and Alex Murfin. Murfin's hit scored Sims and Patrick came home as Reed grounded out to make it 3-0.
Methodist got two runs in the fifth off Zach English (4-3) to cut the lead to 3-2. The Monarchs took the lead for good with three more runs in the sixth to go up 5-3.
Both teams finished with 11 hits. Sims had three hits for the Panthers. Jackson Patrick had a pair of hits and Chris Laye added a double.
In the second game, Methodist's Travis Johnson (8-1) outdueled the Panthers' Eric Morell (5-5). Morell gave up all four of the runs, only three were earned, in seven innings of work. He struck out six and walked only one.
The Panthers had four hits in the game by Laye, Sauls, Sims, and Alec Redden.
The Panthers end the series and the 2015 season Monday at 1:30 p.m.
