FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Travis Johnson's four-hit shutout in the nightcap of Methodist baseball's Sunday doubleheader against LaGrange College clinched the USA South Conference Championship for the Monarchs, as well as an NCAA Championship berth.
The Monarchs rallied for a 5-3 win in game one before Johnson's shutout highlighted a 4-0 win in the nightcap. With the two wins, the 19th-ranked Monarchs now stand 31-8 on the overall season, 23-6 in conference, while the Panthers fall to 13-22 overall and 12-14 in USA South play. Methodist has reached the 30-win plateau for the first time since 2007 and the 31 wins mark the most since MU finished 39-9-1 in 2002.
Prior to the two games, Methodist celebrated its eight seniors, Chris Power, Rett Lee, Steven Kirby, Cody Molosky, Josh Howard, Daniel Royer, Matt Jack, and Michael Inman. From the spring of 2012 to the present, the majority of this group has an overall record of 100-67 and won the 2013 USA South Conference Tournament, as well as a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
After falling behind 3-0 by the fifth inning, the Green and Gold made it a one run game (3-2), scoring two runs on a single by Alex Rodriguez and a Panther error.
The Monarchs took the lead, 5-3, in the home half of the sixth. With one out, back-to-back singles by Lanners and Pete Wildeboer put two runners on and a walk drawn by Lucas Scott loaded the bases. An RBI single through the right side by Adam Gunn scored Lanners and tied the game, and a two-RBI base knock by Molosky pushed the Monarchs ahead.
Howard started and earned the win (8-1) for Methodist, pitching all 9.0 innings and allowing only three runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks.
Zack English was handed the loss for LaGrange, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and walks.
Molosky finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Lanners and Wildeboer each went 2-for-4 and crossed the plate once.
Keith Sims was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Jackson Patrick got two hits out of his four at-bats with one scored run.
In the second game, Johnson, allowed just four hits in his 9.0 innings of work. He improved to 8-1 with the win. The junior right-hander dished out five strikeouts and just one walk.
After three scoreless innings, the Monarchs got on the board in the bottom of the fourth and never looked back. With one out, Rodriguez doubled to center field and a single by Kirby scored him for a 1-0 lead. Kirby stole second and then advanced to third on a passed ball, and after a Jack walk, Lanners drove in Kirby with a groundout for 2-0 Methodist advantage.
The Green and Gold made it a 4-0 game in the seventh. Wildeboer led off with a single to right field and a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Stephen Nalls advanced him to second. A single through the right side by Gunn pushed Wildeboer to third and a sacrifice bunt by Molosky plated him. Power capped the night's scoring with a single through the right side to score Gunn, and give Methodist the eventual 4-0 victory.
Johnson ended the game in style, striking out LaGrange's Chris Laye with three consecutive strikes, and the celebration ensued.
Kirby finished 1-for-4 with a stolen base and one RBI and run scored and Wildeboer was 1-for-3 with a scored run. Power went 1-for-4 with an RBI and Gunn was 1-for-3 and crossed the plate once.
Laye and Sims each went 1-for-3 and Cain Sauls and Alec Redden added the other two hits in their four at-bats.
Eric Morell was saddled with the loss after tossing 7.0 innings and allowing four runs (3 ER) on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
The two teams will conclude the USA South series on Monday with a single game beginning at 1:30 pm at Armstrong Shelley Field.