Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Ackerman Earns Win, Has Three RBI
ROME, Ga. – Maryville defeated No. 17 Berry 9-6 in game one of the Sunday DH before falling 9-1 in the final game of the Georgia road trip.
The Scots won all but one game over the weekend which mirrors the start of the 2020 season.
"I'm happy with the result this weekend," Maryville head coach Leah Kelley said. "With us going 3-1 we know we have things we need to work on that we would not know if we had gone 4-0. Sara Koonce came up big all weekend. She got us hits and was a spark plug when we needed her. Our whole lineup performed this weekend. It was a full team effort."
Game 1: Maryville 9, Berry 6
Much like the first game of yesterday's DH, the Scots kicked the scoring off early. Jenica Brown reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop. Brown found herself on second after stealing. Following an MC strikeout, Sara Koonce hit a double bringing Brown home. The next batter, Megan Ackerman, hit a single to score Koonce.
After a strikeout and two batters were walked for the Vikings in the top of the second, a single was hit to load the bases. The next batter struck out before a single brought home a Berry run.
Five more runs came for Maryville in the third, with all but one unearned. Brecca Williams and Ackerman scored on a throwing error at first after Williams got on base by a fielder's choice and Ackerman on a fielding error by the shortstop. Kaliyah Hensic hit a three-run homer at the next at bat to push Maryville up 7-1.
Ackerman spent the entire game in the circle for the Scots. She faced 36 batters and allowed only one earned run on 12 hits. The MC pitcher struck out six Vikings. Her win is her second of the season.
"We came out hot in the first game," said Kelley. "Ackerman was hitting her spots like yesterday and our offense backed her up."
The sophomore added two more RBI in the game after flying out to center bright Brown home in the fourth and a single in the sixth scored Brown again. Ackerman went 2-for-3 in the game with three RBI, while Brown had a team-high three runs. Hensic also added three RBI.
The Vikings brought home five runs in the sixth inning, all unearned. The Maryville coach used those errors as a teaching moment to help her team get better. Fortunately for Maryville, they were the last runs scored in the 9-6 win.
"We let them get close with some mistakes," said Kelley. "We talked after the game about how quickly things can change. It was a good opportunity to take the moment to learn."
Game 2: Berry 9, Maryville 1
The Scots got behind early in game two of the twin bill. A single and two doubles for the home squad brought in three runs in the bottom of the first. Neither team brought anyone home in the second.
Brown singled in the top of the third with one out on the board. After a pop up, Koonce hit a single, bringing Brown home and pulling Maryville within two.
Berry had a monster fourth inning, with six earned runs scoring. Two flyouts, a double, and a single were the plays that scored. It was a 9-3 final in favor of the Vikings.
"During the second game, we battled the entire time," Kelley said. "I did not question how our team played the game or their heart. We got tired because we played four tough games on the weekend against two top teams in the region."
Emily Hill went 2-for-2 for the Scots while Koonce and Amaya Goodloe went 1-for-2. The lone RBI was courtesy of Koonce.
Macee Shults pitched 3 1/3 innings for Maryville and took the loss while Kennedy Henry was in the circle for the remaining 2/3 innings.
The Scots take their home field for the first time this year on Friday. Maryville is set to play two doubleheaders over two days against Greenville beginning at 2 p.m. Friday.
