FAYETVILLE, NC--- Methodist used an eight run fourth inning to defeat Randolph-Macon in baseball action Thursday afternoon at Armstrong-Shelley field.  The Yellow Jackets fell to 2-2-1 on the young season, while the Monarchs improved to 7-2 on the year.

R-MC was on the road for its fourth straight game and has now dropped two straight to MU.

The Jackets struck first, pushing a run across the plate in the top of the fourth when Jon Witt singled in Jake Fletcher to take the early lead.  Methodist responded, placing eight runs on the board to put the game away in the home half of the inning.  The Yellow Jackets committed three errors in the inning and five of the eight runs scored were unearned.

Randolph-Macon scored again in the top half of the fifth when a Fletcher SAC-fly drove in Kevin Carroll who reached on a single to left earlier in the inning.  Methodist would add another run in the bottom of the seventh to give the final score.

Preseason All-American Jordan Walton led the Yellow Jackets at the dish, going 2-for-4 on the day.  Witt picked up his team-best second RBI of the year.

Brandon Thigpen paced Methodist with three RBI and two runs.

Jake Bram took the loss for R-MC on the hill, throwing 3.2 innings allowing three earned runs while striking out four.  Glenn McLaughlin was one of four relief pitchers to take the mound for the Yellow Jackets, tossing two innings of no-hit ball.  Michael Inman picked up the win for the Monarchs, pitching five innings while allowing two runs.

Randolph-Macon is back on the diamond at home this weekend for a three-game series with Rowan.  The two teams will face off in a double-header Saturday with the opening game scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. start.