Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FAYETTEVILLE, NC - The Roanoke College baseball team dropped both games of its season opener doubleheader to Methodist University on Sunday. The Maroons start the season with a record of 0-2, while the Monarchs start the season with a record of 2-0.

The Monarchs got on the board early in game number one, as Chris Power scored on a single from Josh Howard through the left side. Methodist led 1-0 after the first inning. Both teams went scoreless through the next four innings until the Monarchs scored again in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Howard was on the scoring end of the play as he crossed the plate off of a Matt Jack double.

The Monarchs piled on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Alex Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly by Steven Kirby. Stephen Nalls singled on the next play to right field, plating Josh Howard. After eight innings, Methodist held a 4-0 lead over the Maroons.

Roanoke rallied in the top of the ninth inning, making a late game push. Collier Donald grounded out to the infield, but it allowed Bradley Mattox to score from third and put Roanoke's first run on the board. On the next play, Clark Crutchfield also grounded out to the short stop, but Devin Cassity made his way home to pull the Maroons within two, 4-2. But two batters later, Methodist picked up the first game of the day over the Maroons, 4-2.

Kevin Oakey and Will Black picked up two hits in the first game, while Mattox, Cassity and Donald finished with one hit each. Cameron Holshouser (0-1) was tabbed with the loss, pitching five innings, giving up just one run and striking out five batters.

Alex Rodriguez hit 3-4 for Methodist in the first game, while Josh Howard went 2-4 with two runs scored. Howard also picked up the win, pitching seven innings, striking out 11.

The Maroons scored first in the second game of the day. Kevin Oakey, the second batter of the fourth inning, reached base after being hit by a pitch. Lucas Nowlin reached on a walk, advancing Oakey to second base. With two outs, Craig Kiley singled through the right side, bringing Oakey across the plate for the 1-0 lead.

Methodist plated the tying run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler Hardee doubled down the left field line with one out. Cody Molosky hit an infield single as Hardee advanced to third. Chris Power grounded to short, allowing Hardee to cross the plate to tie the game at 1-1.

The Monarchs tallied one more in the bottom of the sixth. After being walked with two outs, Matt Jack was moved around the diamond on a pair of walks, eventually crossing the plate on a passed ball. After six innings, Methodist led 2-1. The Maroons got four hits over the next three innings, but couldn't get another player across the plate as Roanoke fell in game two, 2-1.

Bradley Mattox led the Maroons in hitting in the second game, going 3-5. Five different players finished with one hit each, including Craig Kiley who finished with one hit and one RBI, while Kevin Oakey scored the Maroons lone run in the contest. Chad Hill was tabbed with the loss, pitching just 1.2 innings, striking out one.

Tyler Hardee led the Monarchs in hitting, going 2-3 on the day, also scoring one of the team's two runs. Matt Jack scored the other run for Methodist, hitting 1-3, while Chris Power knocked in runner in his 1-4 afternoon.

The Maroons return to action on Wednesday, February 12^th as they play host to Southern Virginia University at Kiwanis Field. That contest is scheduled for a 3:00 PM first pitch.

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