Box Score Maryville College claimed the USA South Athletic Conference Western Division title with an 8-3 win over Piedmont College.
MC advances their record to 15-0, as the championship marks their second straight regular season title.
The Scots used an 11-hit attack led by Alexus Murray's 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Reid Ballard and Christen Torres tallied two RBI each for Maryville.
Sophomore Katlyn Smith earned her 16th win of the year with a complete game. She struck out 14, as she gave up four hits and three earned runs.
Piedmont College struck early in the top of the first inning. Mariann Kennison drew a full-count walk to put the first runner one, before Hannah Hoban earned her 50th RBI of the year. The first baseman lifted a ball to straight-away center for a two-run homer, the Lions led 2-0.
A Piedmont error aided
the Scots in knotting the game at 2-all in the bottom of the inning. Alexus Murray and Taylor Campbell both found singles to right for a pair of baserunners. Sarah Gordon used a hard-hit ball to second, as the error allowed it to roll to the fence in right center. Murray and pinch runner Grace Gordon both scored on the play, 2-2.
Maryville found their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, as Ashton Hayden and Murray found back-to-back singles to short. Campbell plated Hayden with an RBI single down the right-field line, before Reid Ballard's sacrifice fly to center scored Murray. A Sarah Gordon put runners on the corners, as Christen Torres scored them both with a double off the fence in left-center. Campbell and Gordon scored on the hit for a four-run MC lead, 6-2.
Kennison put another run on the board for Piedmont in the top of the sixth with a leadoff solo home run to left field.
Maryville added two more runs in to bottom of the sixth with a two-out rally. Murray singled up the middle before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error. Essence Strambler scored her with an RBI single up the middle. Ballard doubled to right-center to plate Strambler for an 8-3 win.
Maryville College (23-8, 15-0 USA South) followed a 3-for-4 effort from Murray, as she scored three runs. Campbell went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run, while Ballard was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI. Torres went 1-for-3 a pair of RBI, as Strambler went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Hayden went 1-for-3 with a run, while Sarah Gordon was 1-for-4 with a run. Brewer added a hit, while Grace Gordon posted a run.
For Piedmont College (25-7, 13-2) it was Kennison who was 1-for-1 with two runs and an RBI. Hoban was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run, while Kaylee White was 2-for-3.
Maryville will return to action tomorrow for the second game of the series with the Lions. First pitch is slated for noon.
