MC falls to NC Wesleyan 2-1

ZEBULON, N.C. — N.C. Wesleyan edged Maryville 2-1 in the rubber match of their three-game series on Saturday at Five County Stadium.

N.C. Wesleyan (13-20-1, 10-13 USA South) finally broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tyler Clark drew a one-out walk and stole second base. Kani Upshur brought the first run home with his two-out RBI double to the gap in left-center field. Maryville (14-17, 9-12 USA South) appeared as though it was going to get out of the inning without any further damage, but Upshur hustled in to score on a dropped pop-up in the infield grass to put the Bishops ahead 2-0.

That extra run for N.C. Wesleyan proved to be crucial as Maryville's Zack Blonder led off the top of the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field. Although he lost the shutout, N.C. Wesleyan starter Will Beasley (3-4) got the final three outs in the ninth to notch the complete-game victory. Beasley struck out seven while allowing one run on six hits and one walk.

Maryville starter Matt Dyer (2-3) took the loss despite allowing just two runs — one earned —on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in seven innings on the mound.

Ciro Norzagaray went 2-for-4 at the plate to finish with half of N.C. Wesleyan's four hits.

Blonder finished with two hits, including his first home run of the season, to lead Maryville's offense.

N.C. Wesleyan won the first meeting 5-3 in Thursday's series opener, but Maryville won 10-9 in Game 2 on Saturday.