The Maryville College softball Scots opened their 2014 campaign at the Emory University Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday afternoon. The Eagles thwarted a late MC bases loaded rally to preserve an 8-4 victory.
Facing the No.12 ranked Eagles of Emory, Maryville got on the scoreboard in their first at-bat with an unearned run. A pair of walks and a wild pitch pushed Megan Mihaliak across the plate for MC's first run of the season. Emory answered in their first plate appearance with two runs on a pair of hits combined with a Scots infield error.
Trailing 2-1, MC's Jessica McMahan scored on a wild pitch to even the score.
Back-to-back doubles plated Emory's third run in the bottom of the third inning.
Leading 3-2, Emory tagged the plate three times in the fourth inning following three hits to make the score 6-2.
The Scots narrowed the gap with a run in the fifth inning. Kayln Jones scored on a McMahan infield single after Jones had earlier walked. Going into the bottom of the fifth inning, Maryville trailed 6-3.
The Eagles added a pair of runs on a two-out single to centerfield in the fifth inning by Moira Sullivan.
After five complete innings, Emory held an 8-3 advantage.
MC scored the games final run in the seventh when Jones crossed the plate on a Cyndee Morrisette bases loaded walk. Eagle hurler Amanda Kardys induced a game-ending bases loaded double play to secure their second win of the season.
Lexie Randolph suffered the loss on the mound for Maryville. The right-hander scattered 10 hits in six innings of work. She struck out four Eagles.
Maryville's offense was paced by a five hit attack. Mihaliak and McMahan were joined by Taylor Dockery, Jennie Burks, and Emilie Craven with base hits.
The Scots (0-1) will challenge Averett University on Friday evening to conclude the first day of the tournament.
BOX SCORE: http://www.mcscots.com/sports/sball/2013-14/boxscores/20140207_alfu.xml
