Fayetteville, N.C. - North Carolina Wesleyan's baseball team opened USA South play this weekend with a series win at Methodist University. The Bishops took 2-of-3 from the Monarchs thanks to a pair of stellar pitching performances by senior Jake Swartout and sophomore Hatteras Brooks.

After dropping the series opener by a heartbreaking 5-4 score in the first game of Friday's doubleheader, Swartout (1-1) picked up his first win of the season by scattering six hits over seven complete in the nightcap. Dillon Moore tossed the final two scoreless frames to notch his first save, while freshman Macon Hammond paced the offense with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate.

Jake Alexander and Hayden Williams each drove in runs for the Bishops, who opened up a 3-0 lead after three innings of play and cruised to the eventual 4-1 win.

In Sunday's rubber game, Brooks (2-0) mirrored last week's stellar performance with an even more impressive complete-game victory. Brooks allowed just one run on six hits, while striking out seven and walking none.

Freshman James Lovett did the damage at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs to pace NCWC in the 8-1 victory. James Johnson chipped in three hits and an RBI of his own, and Alexander had a pair of hits and runs scored.

In NCWC's lone loss of the weekend, the Bishops plated two runs in both the seventh and ninth innings to force a 4-4 tie heading into the Monarchs' final at-bat. Unfortunately, MU was able to scratch the game-winning score on two hits that sandwiched a stolen base.

Wesleyan (4-5, 2-1 USA South) continues conference play next weekend when the Bishops host a three-game set with LaGrange College. Saturday's twinbill is slated for an 11:00am start at Bauer Field.