The Maryville College softball team fell in two close games on Saturday afternoon on Ford Field against a very tough Berry College squad.
The Scots fell in a 5-3 game in the evening's first contest, before a walkoff RBI by Kylie Aiken thwarted Maryville's comeback efforts in extra innings during the second, 4-3.
First-year Scots Caitlyn Hogg led the charge for Maryville, finishing the day with 3-for-6 outing. The senior left fielder posted two runs and two RBIs in the two games against the Vikings. She also slapped a two-run shot to center field during the second game of the day against Berry – her first home run in the Orange and Garnet.
In six games, Hogg is hitting .400 for Maryville, going 4-of-10 at the plate.
During the first game of the afternoon, the Vikings jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Brittany Ferrell was hit by a pitch, before Aiken was able to single to the pitcher. Sarah Moore singled, scoring Aiken and Ferrell, as Maryville trailed 2-0.
The lead wouldn't last long, however, as Caitlyn Hogg doubled to left center in her first at bat of the day. Megan Mihaliak singled, scoring Hogg from second. Rachel Taylor drew a walk, before Brittany Patmon was able to score both runners with a two-RBI single to right. The Scots led 3-2.
Berry would knot the game at 3-all in the bottom of the third. Rachel Bartoe singled to left, before she stole second and third. Kenzie Fleming singled up the middle, scoring Bartoe from third base to tie the game.
Berry would strike again, as Bartoe singled up the middle in the top of the fifth. Two back-to-back errors by the Scots would all Bartoe to score, giving the Vikings a 4-3 lead. They would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Allison DeBusk singled. Moore would score on the play off a Maryville error for the final score, 5-3.
The Scots were led by Taylor's 1-for-2 day, as she scored and was walked once. Patmon finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Maryville posted three runs on five hits, while having four errors. Berry had five runs on 10 hits with no errors.
The Scots took the Vikings to extra innings in the final game of the evening, but a walk-off RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning ended Maryville's run.
Berry scored first, playing two runs in the bottom of the third. Marie Collop singled, before Fleming was able to reach on an error. Tuttle would use a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Taylor Hogan, before an error would allow pinch runner Shakarah Boswell to score from third. The Vikings led 2-0.
Hogg would even things in the top of the sixth, blasting a two-run shot to center field. She scored Tiffany Brand who'd singled to right, knotting the game at two-all.
Going into the eighth inning, Maryville would take the advantage for the first time in the game. Brand was placed on second – a rule in extra innings – as Hogg singled to third on a bunt. Mihaliak would score Brand with a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Scots a 3-2 lead.
Tuttle was placed on second during the bottom of the eight, as she was sacrificed to third by Moore. Bartoe doubled down the right-field line, scoring Tuttle. Aiken ended the game with an RBI double to center, giving the Vikings a 4-3 win.
Hogg led the Scots in the second game, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Brand was 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Berry College saw Ferrell go 2-for-3 in the second game, while Bartoe was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Vikings move to 4-2 on the season, as the Scots fall to 1-5.
Maryville looks next to Tennessee Temple on Thursday, March 5, weather permitting. First pitch at Warner Park is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Scots will begin USA South action with a 1 p.m. start on March 7 at Averett University in Virginia.
