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Box Score 2 Scots Sweep Opening-Day Doubleheader
ATLANTA – Maryville displayed a complete team effort to open the 2022 season in Saturday's doubleheader sweep at Emory.
The Scots won 14-0 in five innings in Game 1 and then came back with a 5-2 victory in the nightcap. Sara Koonce began her Maryville career in fine fashion, going 5-for-6 in the twin bill with a two-run homer and four runs batted in. Another newcomer, Brecca Williams, went a combined 4-for-8 and scored three runs.
"It was really fun to watch," Scots head coach Leah Kelley said. "They played as a team, and it wasn't just nine versus nine. Our starters and everyone off the bench played good softball all day.
"Pitching was solid. Megan threw a great first game. She was really hitting her spots. And then freshman Macee pitched well. We didn't back her up offensively as well as we did the first game, but our defense was solid all day. We made a lot of great plays that won't show up on a scorebook."
Megan Ackerman earned the victory in the first game, blanking the Eagles on four hits and striking out one. First-year twirler Macee Shults pitched 4 and 2/3 innings for the victory in Game 2, allowing no runs on three hits.
The Scots are right back at it Sunday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Berry. It is the season-opener for the Vikings.
"Now we go and play our other region rival in Berry," Kelley said. "They always have a good team, but we have a lot of momentum out of our preseason and what happened Saturday. We are looking forward to another tough challenge."
Game 1 Highlights
Maryville scored early and often in Saturday's opener. The Scots put four on the board in the top of the first, four more in the second and then a six-spot in the third for the 14-0 cushion. The game was called at the end of five innings.
Williams cleared the bases in the first with a 3-RBI triple, and Koonce highlighted the second with her long home run to left center. Maryville in the third inning scored in bits and pieces, tallying runs on a fielding error, hit-by-pitch, fielder's choice, two singles and a passed ball.
Williams finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs scored and five batted in. Emily Hill was a perfect 3-for-3 with a couple of RBIs, and Koonce finished 1-for-2 with her two-run shot as the Scots rapped out 13 hits.
Ackerman in gathering her first collegiate pitching victory faced 21 batters and threw 43 strikes out of 63 pitches. Natalie Swift took the loss for Emory.
Game 2 Highlights
Maryville started fast again in the nightcap. Koonce with one out singled up the middle to score Jenica Brown, who had singled, stolen second and advanced to third on a groundout.
The Scots added a second run in the fifth when Koonce doubled to plate Amaya Goodloe, who began the inning with a bunt single. Maryville then broke it open with three runs in the sixth. Kaliyah Hensic laced a two-run double down the left field line to score Emily Hill and Ava Whitmire. Brown then plated Hensic with an infield single.
Emory scored a pair in the last of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Ackerman finished off the game in relief. Shults faced 21 batters and threw 39 strikes out of 76 pitches. Ackerman pitched the final 2 and 1/3 innings, facing 12 hitters and throwing 23 strikes out of 35 pitches.
Koonce was a smooth 4-for-4 in Game 2 with a pair of RBIs. Brown added two hits in four trips from the leadoff spot as the Scots outhit the Eagles 10-7.
