Fayetteville, NC—Keystone College opened its 2018 season today by dropping a 12-5 decision to Methodist University at the Armstrong/Diamond Invitational.

The Monarchs took advantage of eight errors by the Giants to score six unearned runs to improve to 3-1 on the season.  They even turned a triple play in the sixth inning after opening up a 9-3 lead with a four-run rally in the previous inning.

Junior shortstop Chris Panzarella had two hits and drove in two runs and junior starting pitcher Dakota McFadden belted out two hits for Keystone, which will take on Christopher Newport tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. and DeSales University Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.

Sophomore shortstop Matthias Carter paced Methodist's 11-hit attack with four hits and sophomore catcher Alex Kachler belted a three-run home run in the first inning.  Sophomore pitcher Tyler Brown picked up the win by scattering seven hits and striking out four to improve to 2-0 on the year.  He, along with relievers Noah Latta, Logan Haines, and Hunter Barnes, also did not allow an earned run.

Seniors Bray Curreri, Austin Chaszar and Anthony Ferrezza each had a hit for Keystone, which scored three runs in the top of the second inning on a two-run single by Panzarella and an rbi single by Curreri.