Fayetteville, NC—Keystone College opened its 2018 season today by dropping a 12-5 decision to Methodist University at the Armstrong/Diamond Invitational.

The Monarchs took advantage of eight errors by the Giants to score six unearned runs to improve to 3-1 on the season.  They even turned a triple play in the sixth inning after opening up a 9-3 lead with a four-run rally in the previous inning.

Junior shortstop Chris Panzarella (Hazle Township, Pa./Hazleton Area) had two hits and drove in two runs and junior starting pitcher Dakota McFadden (Rocky Point, NC/Heide Trask) belted out two hits for Keystone, which will take on Christopher Newport tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m. and DeSales University Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.

Sophomore shortstop Matthias Carter paced Methodist's 11-hit attack with four hits and sophomore catcher Alex Kachler belted a three-run home run in the first inning. 

Sophomore pitcher Tyler Brown picked up the win by scattering seven hits and striking out four to improve to 2-0 on the year.  He, along with relievers Noah Latta, Logan Haines, and Hunter Barnes, also did not allow an earned run.

Seniors Bray Curreri (Eldred, N.Y./Eldred Central), Austin Chaszar (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) and Anthony Ferrezza (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) each had a hit for Keystone, which scored three runs in the top of the second inning on a two-run single by Panzarella and an rbi single by Curreri.