Maryville College faced their first setback of the USA South Tournament on Saturday afternoon, as Averett University won the semifinal matchup, 6-0, over the Scots.
Maryville now advances to the play-in game tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Ferrum College. The winner will play in the USA South Championship game at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
The Scots were stifled by the USA South Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, as Mary Beth Smith pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit in the contest. She has a 20-7 record on the year, and she added four strikeouts to her 2016 marks against Maryville.
Averett (25-15) struck first in the bottom of the second, plating three runs. Samm Chandler scored on an error, before Essence Pulliam scored Andrea Grant and Amanda Wright with a two-RBI single. Each of the runs in the inning were unearned, as the Cougars took a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Smith helped herself with a solo shot to left-center, before a two-run home run by Grant scored her and Wright in the bottom of the sixth for the 6-0 final.
Maryville (25-16) saw their 11-game win streak snapped by Averett, as only Savannah Cook was able to find a hit in the contest. Rachel Taylor and Alexus Murray each were able to reach base on a pair of errors by Averett.
Casey Joliff (7-2) picked up only her second loss of the season from within the circle, as she scattered nine hits. She allowed just three earned runs with one strikeout, but Maryville's stagnant offense couldn't get rolling.
Tomorrow's game is an elimination game. If they Scots win, they will play Averett in the USA South Championship game. Should Maryville topple the Cougars in that game, a second game will be played for the double-elimination format.
