Lusby Earns Second Straight Win
BREVARD, N.C. – Maryville started USA South action with a 5-1 win against Brevard, which extended the team's double-digit hit streak to six games, before that ending the day with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Tornadoes in the second game.
The Scots are 11-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play after the twin bill, while Brevard is 12-7 on the year with a 1-1 league mark.
Game 1: Maryville 5, Brevard 1
Maryville had five hits over the first five innings of game one, but no hits. The Tornadoes brought a single runner home in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single.
In the top of the sixth, the Scots tied the game. Gabe Lopez led off the inning and was walked before making it to second on a Nelson Smith sacrifice bunt. A Christian Carlton single to left center scored Lopez and made the contest an even 1-1.
"We played well in game one and competed hard down the stretch which gave us a chance in the last few innings," said MC head coach Clint Helton.
Momentum swung towards Maryville in a powerful ninth inning. Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for the visiting team. Jimmy Meredith singled down the third base line and two runners scored for the Scots. An additional two runs came later in the inning when a Max Bowers single sent a runner home followed by a wild pitch moving Meredith across the plate.
"Meredith's hit that put us ahead was huge and then we added a few insurance runs. The pitchers threw really well for us and held them off in the first game," said Helton.
Bryce Leonhardt pitched six frames for the Scots and struck out seven batters as the starter. Damian Lusby picked up the win with three scoreless innings of work. Lusby allowed only one hit in his third win of the season.
Meredith went 2-for-4 at the plate, with a team-leading two RBI. Kendall Catlett, Zac Graham, Bowers, and Lopez each had two hits with Bowers and Carlton notching one RBI each.
Game 2: Brevard 5, Maryville 3
The second game started much like the first, with Brevard taking an early lead. Unfortunately for Maryville, the Scots never found their way on top.
"We just didn't play our best baseball in the second game. We had too many mistakes and they took advantage of it," Helton said.
Maryville did keep things close and pulled within one run in the top of the fifth. Singles from Peyton Milam and Meredith began the frame. A sacrifice bunt from Zach Fritts loaded the bases after Fritts reached first on a fielder's choice. Bowers hit a single to score one Scot and Lopez hit a sacrifice fly on the next at-bat to score Meredith.
The Tornadoes answered back in the sixth and took a two-run advantage back. Bowers kept the visiting team in the contest with a solo home run with two outs in the seventh frame. Brevard kept pace and put up a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
No more runs scored in the 5-3 win for the Tornadoes.
Bowers was perfect at the plate, with three hits on three attempts. The junior also had a team-high two RBI and scored a run. Lopez had the other RBI for Maryville in game two.
Chris Arbuthnot started the game on the mound for the Scots, and left with the loss. Arbuthnot struck out two batters over five innings. Tommy Musuras and Grady Cash also saw action on the mound.
Maryville and Brevard face off in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon. First pitch from North Carolina is set for 1 p.m.
"We'll bounce back tomorrow and play to win the series," Helton concluded.
