Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Strong Starting Pitching Sets Tone
MARYVILLE – An early season trend continued Saturday with Maryville getting two more terrific performances from its starting pitching staff. The Scots swept Greenville 5-1 and 8-2.
Chris Arbuthnot allowed one run over seven innings in the opener, and then Austin Suttle picked up his first collegiate victory with six innings of three-hit ball to support an 11-hit attack in the nightcap.
"Quality starts from each guy and then everyone who came in from the bullpen – same thing," Maryville head coach Clint Helton said. "They did what we preach, and that's attack hitters, dictate the counts and stay ahead. That's how we teach it.
"And then offensively, we got some big innings going. We manufactured some runs, we were aggressive on balls in play, had some big sac flies, and we executed well on balls in the infield with runners at third and less than two outs. It was fun to watch."
Impressive Numbers
Through six games, Maryville's three starters – Bryce Leonhardt was the Friday hurler – have combined to produce the team's 5-1 record with a 1.95 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 37 innings against just seven walks. The bullpen has two saves and a 3.21 ERA, with 18 strikeouts against nine walks in 14 innings.
In Game 1, the Scots scored five times in their final two at bats to flip a 1-0 deficit and make a winner out of Arbuthnot. Peyton Milam tied it 1-1 with an RBI-double down the right field line, and then Max Bowers singled to center with two out to score a pair.
Jimmy Meredith blasted an RBI-double to right center in the eighth and then came around on Kendall Catlett's sacrifice fly.
Arbuthnot struck out four over his seven innings. Nic Mirabella pitched a scoreless eighth and then the four-run lead meant no save opportunity for Grady Cash, but the righthander still struck out the side.
Milam and Christian Carlton had two-hit games for the Scots, who outhit Greenville 9-8. Terry Millikan was the losing pitcher in relief.
Game 2 saw Maryville take control with another three-run frame, this time the fourth to break a 1-1 tie. Catlett singled home the lead run and then Zach Fritts with a groundout and Gabe Lopez with a sacrifice fly drove home the other two tallies. Maryville had three sac flies in the twin bill thanks to some aggressive footwork on the basepaths.
The Scots in the seventh blew the game open with two runs for a 7-1 cushion. Carlton doubled home a run with a drive to right center and later came around to score on a passed ball.
Four-Hit Game for Bowers
Bowers was the hitting star in Game 2, going 4-for-5 to raise his season average to .435. He already has 10 hits in the six games, with two triples and a homer. He also leads the club with six RBIs.
"We faced our pitchers middle of the week this week, and we came out swinging against them," Bowers said. "So I knew we were prepared for this weekend. If we keep hitting off them during the week, then on the weekends we will hit just fine because our pitching staff is really good."
Catlett and Kasey Ross had two hits apiece, with Ross going 2-for-4 in his first action as the designated hitter. The 11 hits were Maryville's second-most in a game thus far, just missing the 12 in the opener against Oglethorpe.
Suttle fanned seven over his six full innings. Damian Lusby was sharp for his two innings – he allowed just one run over five innings in the series – before Cash came on once again and struck out two of the three hitters he faced.
The Scots host Cleveland State Community College for junior varsity action on Tuesday, and then get back into their preconference season with a home weekend series against Hanover. Game times are 1 p.m. for Saturday's doubleheader and 1 p.m. for the Sunday finale.
