FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Shenandoah University softball team gave Methodist everything it could handle in game one of Saturday's USA South double-header, but the Lady Monarchs were just too strong and pulled out the sweep, 11-8 and 14-1.

Methodist (21-9 overall, 7-1 USA South) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Hornets (5-20, 1-13) were not intimidated by the early onslaught and responded immediately.

Shenandoah used four hits and took advantage of three errors by the Lady Monarchs to score six runs in the top of the second inning, letting the hosts know this was not the same old SU.

Methodist, in turn, answered back with five runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. Shenandoah kept the game close with a pair of RBI singles from Carrie Harris (Front Royal, Va./Warren Co.) in the fourth and sixth innings, but the Lady Monarchs held on for the 11-8 win.

Shenandoah hoped to make the second game equally as competitive and started out in a positive direction when Harris grounded out to drive in Teresa Prezzy (Winchester, Va./James Wood) in the top of the first.

The Lady Monarchs then scored 14 unanswered runs (10 earned) on nine hits and three Shenandoah errors by the end of the fourth inning to force Shenandoah into a mercy-rule loss.

Complete boxscores may be found at: http://www.su.edu/athletics/sb/2004/teamstat.htm

The Hornets are back on the diamond Monday when they welcome local non-conference opponent Christendom College for this year's installment of the 522 rivalry beginning at 4:00.