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Box Score 2 Maryville College's Jessica McMahan had a big day at the plate, helping the Scots to a split in the opening round of the MC Invitational Softball Tournament on Saturday evening.
Maryville toppled Centre College, 6-1, before falling to a late rally against the Emory & Henry Wasps, 11-6.
McMahan led Maryville at the dish, going 5-for-6 with four runs scored on the afternoon.
Centre College struck first, as Ellen Stephens laced an RBI single to left to score Alisha Russell. Morgan Corso handled a line-drive double play to end the inning for the Scots, as the Colonels led 1-0 after the first inning.
Maryville got on the board during the top of the fourth inning. Jessica McMahan reached on an error by the second baseman, before Rachel Taylor blasted her second home run of her Orange and Garnet career. Going to the bottom of the fourth, the Scots led 2-1.
The Scots continued their rally in the top of the fifth, adding three hits and four runs. Maryville loaded the bags before Alexus Murray slashed a three-RBI double to the left-field fence. Jenna Roberts, McMahan and Taylor each scored on the play, before Murray was able to score off an RBI double by Elizabeth Wheeler. Through four-and-a-half innings, the Scots had control, 6-1.
Maryville (2-4) was led by McMahan's 3-for-4 day at the play, as the speedster scored two of Maryville's six runs. Murray was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Taylor was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Savannah Cook and Megan Mihaliak each went 1-for-3, while Roberts scored a run for the Scots. Wheeler was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Kayla Aloisi evened her record from the circle at 2-2 on the season. She pitched the complete game, giving up only six hits and one earned run. Aloisi struck out two Colonels and walked only one batter.
For Centre (0-2), it was Brittany Sears that went 2-for-3, while Ellen Stephens was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Russell was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
During the day's second game, Maryville found the plate early in the first inning. Cook reached on a bunt single to the pitcher, before Murray scored the leadoff hitter from third with an RBI fielder's choice to the shortstop. After one inning, the Scots led 1-0.
In the top of the third, Emory & Henry found a score after a battle at the play by Riley Pudney. After forcing 13 pitches from Morgan Corso, Pudney cranked an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Jordan Whitcomb from second base. Danielle Loving followed suit, using an RBI double to right center to score Pudney. Taylor Doss roped a line drive single to left, scoring Loving from third as the Wasps found their rhythm. Going to the bottom of the third, Emory & Henry led 3-1.
McMahan found a bloop single over the second baseman to help Maryville score again. She moved to second off a single by Rachel Taylor, before reaching third on a fly ball. McMahan scored two pitches later, as Kaitlyn Pruitt's pitch hit the dirt. Maryville trailed 3-2 going to the fourth inning.
Emory & Henry found a second wind in the fourth inning, however, as they pushed three runs across the plate. Leah Elswick used an RBI double to center field to score Alyssa Clark, before Pudney matched her with an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Elswick. Caley Hodge singled down the left-field line, scoring Pudney to put the Wasps up 6-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Emilie Craven found a solo shot to left field. The home run pulled Maryville to within three, 6-3, going to the fifth inning.
In the fifth, Emory & Henry hung five runs on five hits. Pudney used a two-RBI double up the middle to score Amanda Whitlow and Brittany Scott. Loving singled to center to score Pudney, before Hodge used a two-RBI double to right to score Loving and Pudney. The Wasps held an 11-3 lead going to the bottom of the fifth.
Maryville chipped away, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning. Murray singled to right to score McMahan, before Mihaliak used an RBI single up the middle to score Murray. Casey Joliff scored off Craven's sacrifice fly, cutting the score to 11-6, where the game would finish.
McMahan led the Scots with a 2-for-2 effort, scoring two runs. Craven was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Cook went 2-for-4 and plated a run. Murray was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, as Mihaliak was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Wheeler went 1-for-1, while Taylor was 2-for-4. Morgan Corso and Jenna Roberts each went 1-for-3, while Joliff added a run.
For Emory & Henry (2-0), it was all Pudney. The second-baseman went 3-for-5, playing four RBIs and three runs for the Wasps. Hodge went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Loving was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Maryville will look next to the second round of the MC Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 21. The Scots will play Emory & Henry at 11 a.m., before taking on Centre College at 1 p.m.
