WINCHESTER, Va. - In a game that featured 39 runs, 46 hits and took more than four hours to complete, visiting Methodist University outlasted Shenandoah 20-19 in the USA South Conference opener for both schools Saturday afternoon.

The Monarchs (8-5, 1-0 USA South) led 8-1 in the middle of the fourth and 15-9 as everybody in the stands rose for the seventh inning stretch, but had had to hold on as the Hornets (13-2, 0-1) rallied each time.

Sophomore Kevin Brashears keyed a six-run SU fourth with a grand slam home run before Shenandoah answered an MU six-run sixth with five of its own in the seventh.

Junior Scott Van Dusseldorp provided the big blast in that frame with a three-run HR to left center.

After both teams scored three runs in the eighth, the Hornets finally tied it in the bottom of the ninth with two hits.

Van Dusseldorp led off with a double down the right field line, moved to third on a groundout and then scored when Jasen Eberz singled back up the middle.

Methodist avoided a walk-off loss by inducing a pair of groundouts to end the inning.

The Monarchs got their game-winning runs in the 10th with a leadoff single followed by a fielder's choice and two singles. The 19th run came home with the SU defense drawn in; the throw from SU second baseman Jon Holcomb was slightly off-line and allowed Phillip Betterly to score with the go-ahead tally.

The Hornets cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame by taking advantage of an MU error and then had the game-tying run at third, but winning pitcher Alex Sholar (1-0) got Cory Nelson to ground sharply to third to end the contest.

Gage Levac (0-1), the fifth SU pitcher, took the loss. He gave up three runs on five hits in 2.2 innings.