Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Maryville College softball Scots moved to 4-2 in USA South action on Sunday afternoon, as the Scots secured a split with USA South foe Piedmont College.
Maryville gave up six runs in the fourth inning of the first game, as the Lady Lions escaped with a 12-8 win, but the Scots stormed back in the second game for a 5-0 victory.
Maryville currently sits a .500 on the season with an 8-8 record, while they are ranked sixth within the USA South Athletic Conference. The Scots become the first program to claim four conference wins on the season.
The Orange and Garnet put together a four-run inning in the bottom of the third to take advantage of Piedmont errors. Chloe Lawrence walked, before Jessica McMahan reacked on an error. Rachel Taylor reached on a fielding error, as Lawrence scored her first collegiate run. McMahan scored two pitches later on a wild pitch, before Alexus Murray laced an RBI double to left-center to score Taylor. Casey Joliff singled up the middle to score Murray, as the Scots led 4-0.
Maryville (8-8, 4-2 USA South) would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. McMahan reached on a bunt single, before stealing second and advancing to third on a fly-out by Taylor. Murray scored the speedster with a groundout to the shortstop, as the Scots took the win, 5-0.
The Scots' five-hit attack was led by Murray's 2-for-3 day, as she added two RBIs and a run scored. McMahan was 1-for-3 with two runs, while Joliff was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Elizabeth Wheeler was 1-for-1 in the game.
For Piedmont (6-4, 3-1), the duo of Morgan Corland and Kayla Aloisi allowed only four hits to the Lady Lions. Corland (2-3) picked up her second win in a row, allowing four hits in four innings of work, as she struck out one. Aloisi earned her first save of the season, pitching three perfect innings inside the circle for the Scots.
Piedmont struck first in the top of the first during the day's opening game, scoring three runs. Abby Smith laced an RBI single to left to score Audrey Esakoff, before Josie Coker cleared the bags with a two-RBI single down the left field line. After one half inning, the Lady Lions led 3-0.
Maryville would strike back, however, plating three of their own in the bottom of the inning. Savannah Cook walked before stealing second base, as McMahan singled to second. McMahan stole second, before Taylor used an RBI single to center to score Cook. Joliff scored McMahan on a groundout to the pitcher, before Megan Mihaliak was able to reach on a throwing error. The error scored pinch runner Melissa Frease, as Maryville knotted the game at 3-all.
The Scots would strike again in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs behind two Piedmont errors. Jenna Roberts stole second, as the catcher's throw sailed into center field, allowing Morgan Corso to score from third. Taylor laced a two-RBI single to center to score McMahan and Roberts, as Maryville took a 6-3 lead to the third inning.
In the top of the fourth, Piedmont used five hit to score six runs to regain the lead. Maryville added an error in the inning, as the Lady Lions had four singles and a double. Allyson Gentry and Smith had RBI singles, while Esakoff added a two-RBI double, as Piedmont led 9-6.
Maryville's Cook cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth, as she sent her second career home run over the left field fence. Roberts scored on the two-run shot, as Maryville trailed 9-8 going to the fifth.
Piedmont would thwart an MC comeback in the top of the seventh, as the Lady Lions added three insurance runs. Esakoff had an RBI single to left center, before Hoban used a two-RBI double to left-center to make the final score 12-8.
The pair of teams combined for 20 runs and 26 hits in the contest.
Maryville saw Taylor finish 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Cook went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. McMahan was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Roberts was 1-for-3 with two runs. Corso was 1-for-4 with a run, while Joliff went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Piedmont was led by Esakoff who went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs and a walk. Smith was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and run, while Hoban went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. The Lions tossed in 16 hits to go with 11 RBIs.
Maryville will have a week off before traveling to Huntingdon College on Saturday, March 12 for a double header beginning at 1 p.m.
