Fayetteville, N.C. -- The Lynchburg College baseball team opened the 2018 season with a tough 9-3 loss at Methodist Wednesday afternoon in non-conference play.

A six-run fourth inning by the Monarchs was the difference.

Lynchburg got just three hits -- one apiece from shortstop Thomas Powell (Stanardsville, Va.) designated hitter Matthew Stevens (Annandale, Va.) and second baseman Parker Shaffer (Richmond, Va.) -- but the Hornets were successful in manufacturing runs. Senior right fielder Will Harris (Halifax, Va.) had two RBI fielder's choices.

Graham Boggio (Midlothian, Va.) and David Goulding (Lynchburg, Va.) delivered scoreless outings out of the bullpen for LC.

THE RUNDOWN

Final: Methodist 9, Lynchburg 3

Records: Methodist 2-1, Lynchburg 0-1

Venue: Armstrong Shelley Field, Methodist University, Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Methodist took an early 2-0 lead with back-to-back two-out RBI knocks in the bottom of the second.

- After Lynchburg tied the game when Harris' groundout and a subsequent error brought home two runs, Methodist made use of a wild pitch, a passed ball, a fielding error, and a three-run home run to put six runs on the board in the fourth.

- LC responded with a run in the fifth, also driven in by Harris on a fielder's choice, but could chip away no further.

- The Monarchs added another insurance run on a passed ball in the sixth inning.

LOOKING AHEAD

Lynchburg hits the road again this Sunday, Feb. 18, this time for Danville, Va. and a 1 p.m. first pitch with Averett.

--LC--