Box Score DH Opens with 4-1 Win
MARYVILLE – In less than ideal conditions for baseball, Maryville pulled out a 4-1 win over Hanover in game one before the second game of the twin bill was halted due to heavy rain.
The halted game will resume play before tomorrow's previously scheduled contest, weather permitting.
"Playing in wet conditions is hard," said Scots' head coach Clint Helton. "It is the same for both teams so the weather is never a difference-maker for anybody. We always tell the team to control what they can control, and they did a great job of doing that and playing through tough conditions. I am proud of them for sticking through the first game."
It was rainy throughout the Saturday afternoon tilt but that did not stop Maryville from making big plays. After a scoreless first inning for both squads, the teams started to put numbers up on the board.
The Panthers notched their first hit of the game in the top of the second but failed to score a run. When the Scots stepped up to bat things did not go well at first, with two quick outs opening up the frame. Things shifted for the home team when the next two batters were walked. With runners on first and second, Matthew Morelli came up to bat as the DH. The freshman hit a triple to right field, which brought two Maryville runners home.
"Both teams were fired up the entire first game," said Helton. "Matthew Morelli got his first collegiate hit, which was a big hit that scored two runs. We got some other timely hits that gave us the advantage in the first contest."
Those timely hits came in the seventh inning. With the runs tally at 2-0 to start the bottom of the second, the Scots built on their lead.
Kendall Catlett doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh followed by a walk. An error by the Panther pitcher followed and loaded the bases. Following a foul out and a pitching change, Ian Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Catlett. Max Bowers was next at the plate and singled down the left-field line to bring another runner home.
A solo homer for Hanover came at the top of the ninth and was the only scoring for the visiting team in the 4-1 win for the Scots.
Bryce Leonhardt continued his hot streak on the mound and improved his record to 3-0. The junior struck out 10 batters while only allowing one run in a full nine innings of work. He faced 31 batters over 105 pitches and notched 77 strikes.
"Bryce did a great job holding the other team off-balance," Helton said. "He threw a complete game and was really cruising. He wanted to finish the game and, with his pitch count where it was, we gave him the opportunity and he executed."
Morelli led the Scots with two RBI and a triple. Bowers and Campbell also had RBI for Maryville on Saturday. Jimmy Meredith scored two runs and was walked twice in the win. As a team, the Scots had five hits and committed no errors.
Maryville is 6-1 and winners of four straight games while the Panthers fall to 0-2. The series is set to conclude tomorrow at Scotland Yard with the resumption of today's second game and the final contest of the three-game series.
