ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The 17th ranked NC Wesleyan College Baseball team ran their winning streak to 10 games with their 8-5 game one win over Methodist University on Saturday before falling 10-2 in a rain-shortened game two from Bauer Field.
Wesleyan got out to a fast 2-0 lead in game one with back to back run-scoring doubles from senior catcher Brad Pennington and sophomore 2B Davie Morgan. A Jackson Murray RBI single then made it 3-1 in the 4th before the Bishops would add three more runs in the 5th on two RBI singles from SS Nate Hibbs and Pennington and a wild pitch.
Another two-run single from Pennington in the 6th made it 8-3 Bishops before MU tacked on some runs late to make the final 8-5.
Pennington led the offense going 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs while Morgan also went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and two doubles. Hibbs and sophomore CF Drifton Padgett also recorded multi-hit games for the Bishops.
Freshman starting pitcher Cullen Davis (1-0) picked up the win on the mound throwing 5 and 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts while freshman reliever Danny Thompson grabbed the save throwing the final 3 and 2/3 innings allowing just one earned run on 3 hits, a walk, and 4 Ks.
GAME 2: MU 10, NCWC 2 (8 innings)
Wesleyan would get out to a quick 2-1 lead after one inning in game two on a Pennington RBI single and a Jackson Hobbs groundout, but unfortunately would not be able to put up any more runs on MU pitcher Ryan Hill over the remaining 7 innings.
MU would then jump out to a 5-2 lead in the second scoring 4 runs off Bishop freshman starter Payne Stolsworth before adding two more runs off him in the 5th to lead 7-2. Stolsworth finished going 5 innings allowing 5 earned runs on 3 hits, 6 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Senior reliever Drew Tubb then allowed 3 runs on 3 hits with a walk and 3 strikeouts over his two innings of relief. Relievers Alex Crosby and Robby Casey then finished the final 1 and 1/3 innings scoreless with 3 Ks before the storms came.
Freshman 3B Tyson Bass led the offense in game two going 3 for 3 with a run scored and a double.
The #17 Bishops fall to 17-3 on the season and 5-1 in the conference while MU improves to 8-12 and 2-4 in conference. Wesleyan will return to action on Wednesday to battle at Ferrum College at 3 PM.