Baseball Loses Opener to Methodist

4/2/2005 9:53:00 AM

WINCHESTER, Va. - Rain held off the start of the Shenandoah University baseball doubleheader with Methodist on Saturday by two hours, but it was the Monarchs that did the day's biggest damage in a 6-0 USA South Conference victory.

The rain came back just before the start of the second game; Shenandoah (15-12, 7-9 USA South) and Methodist (20-7, 9-4 USA South) will now attempt to play a doubleheader on Sunday in order to complete the three-game series.

The league leading Monarchs wasted little time in jumping on SU starter Gerry Sasse (3-4). After Sasse retired leadoff hitter Jonathan Spivey on a pop to short and then picked off David Hoffman off of first, MC got all of the offense it would need.

Matt Kleckner doubled to center and came home one batter later on designated hitter Blake Maxwell's bleeder through the right side. Methodist then turned things over to pitcher Ryan Brandt (5-1).

Brandt allowed just a first inning single by David Jenkins and a double to right in the third by catcher Adam Kuchemba in throwing the complete game shutout. He struck out four and walked just one.

Sasse pitched well after settling down, but two-out Monarchs rally in the sixth inning spelled doom for the Hornets comeback chances. Sasse gave up six runs on nine hits and three walks before turning it over to freshman Jason Byrne for the final four outs of the game. Sasse struck out four of the 27 batters he faced.

Maxwell and Hoffman each had two hits for the visitors while Kyle Eudy drove in a pair of runs.

Box Score/Play 

SU and the Monarchs hope to complete the three-game series with a doubleheader Sunday. Scheduled game time is 1:00.

 
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