No. 17 Shenandoah Splits with Methodist

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - No. 10/17 Shenandoah University earned a USA South Conference baseball split at Methodist University Sunday.

Shenandoah (18-7, 7-3 USA South) got a four-hitter from senior Cory Nelson in a 13-2 game two victory after Methodist (15-14, 2-6) won game one 3-2.

The game one victory for the Monarchs was the 1000th career victory for MU skipper Tom Austin.

Nelson (3-3) was dominant in the nightcap, facing the minimum through six innings while allowing just one hit.

He retired 13 in a row from the end of the second through the end of the sixth - the lone Methodist batter to reach base was retired on an inning-ending double play.

The Hornets provided Nelson with a cushion by scoring three runs in the first before adding two in the fourth and another in the fifth.

In the fifth, the game was delayed for nearly two hours by a rain delay.

The Monarchs did all of the offensive damage in the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits, before Nelson recovered to finish off the game by allowing just two walks in the final two innings.

Nick Beall led the offense with a 4 for 5 game two while Kurt Krout was 3 for 6 with four RBI and Jake Pendergraft 2 for 4 with three RBI.

Tucker Brown was also 3 for 5.

In game one, the Hornets had 10 hits to the Monarchs six, but left 11 runners on in the 3-2 defeat.

Senior closer Kyle Scallion (0-1) took the loss as he came in relief of Vince Claudio to start the ninth.

Scallion, who was making just his second appearance of the spring, issued a one-out single followed by a walk before shortstop Steven Kirby stepped to the plate.

Kirby hit a potential inning-ending double play ball to Nelson at first, but Nelson's relay throw sailed into centerfield and pinch runner Josh Tulledge came all the way around from second to score the game-winning run.

Claudio went the first 8.0 innings, striking out seven and allowing two unearned runs on five hits. Claudio retired the final 13 hitters he faced.

Christian Frey was 3 for 4 and both Krout and Corbin Lucas 2 for 4 to lead the offense.

Shenandoah is back in action on Wednesday in a non-league game at Catholic.