Box Score A strong relief appearance by Christian Poulsen and a grand slam by Johnny Carpenter highlighted Maryville College baseball's 11-3 road win over Berry College on Tuesday afternoon in Rome, Georgia.
Maryville lit up the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Bryce Redaja laced a single to right field. Mike Homan advanced Redaja to second base with a single to right-center field. An Alden Wright groundout put both runners in scoring position before Redaja dashed home on a wild pitch. Patrick Messinger sent Homan home when Berry's first baseman could not handle Messinger's hard contact. The Scots tallied a pair of runs on two hits and a Viking miscue.
MC's 2-0 lead was short-lived. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for the Vikings in the bottom of the second. Maryville's starting pitcher Luke Williams walked Dylan Beasley for Berry's first run of the season. MC head coach Cody Church went to the bullpen and Christian Poulsen took the mound for the Scots with the bases loaded and no outs. An infield single by Devin Post evened the score at 2-2 before Poulsen closed the door with a strikeout and a ground ball. After two complete innings, the score stood at 2-2.
The Scots put up four runs in the top of the fifth inning. An Andrew Henry sacrifice bunt put Messinger and Hayden Hollingsworth in scoring position. Jake Petersen delivered a fielder's choice scoring a hard-sliding Messinger for the Scots' third run as the Viking's catcher could not handle the throw. Johnny Carpenter delivered a bases-loaded single to left field scoring Hollingsworth. Redaja deposited a bases-loaded single through the right-side scoring Drew Johnson and Petersen. At the conclusion of five complete innings, the Scots led the Vikings 6-2.
In the top of the sixth inning, a Berry error on another Andrew Henry sacrifice tallied the Scots' seventh run-scoring Messinger who earlier singled to center field. Johnny Carpenter promptly laced a two-out grand slam over the left field fence giving Maryville a commanding 11-2 advantage after six complete innings.
Maryville's Christian Poulsen finished his debut in orange and garnet with five innings of stellar relief. The right-handed junior from Schaumburg, Illinois earned the win on the mound after scattering three hits, recording three strikeouts, and not allowing a run.
Berry pulled a little closer in the bottom of the seventh when T. Calvert tripled to right-center field scoring W. Deems who singled earlier up the middle off MC reliever Jerod Dickey. With seven complete innings in the book, Maryville led 11-3.
The Scots' Zach McGee and Samuel Joiner tossed strong eighth and ninth innings to help close the door on the road victory.
Berry (0-1) had an eight-hit offensive attack highlighted by the Viking's Will Deems, Tyler Calvert, and Devin post who each finished with a pair of hits.
Maryville (1-0) tallied 11 hits on offense led by shortstop Patrick Messinger. The senior went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Johnny Carpenter and Bryce Redaja each went 2-for-5. Redaja plated a pair of RBI while Carpenter finished with a game-high five runs driven in.
The Scots will now prepare to host Roanoke College for a three-game series beginning on Saturday on MC's Scotland Yard. Saturday will feature a doubleheader with the Maroons beginning at 1:00 p.m.
