Box Score Offensive Explosion Not Enough at Berry
ROME, Ga. – Maryville and Berry continue to produce entertaining baseball games, and Tuesday's affair was no different. The Scots produced one of their best offensive days of the season, but it wasn't enough in a 16-11 loss to the Vikings.
Maryville scored five times in the top of the fifth, sparked by the first career home runs off the bats of Nelson Smith and Jimmy Meredith. That second two-run blast pulled the Scots within 7-6 at the midway point of this game. But Berry responded with a nine-spot in the bottom half of the inning to build a 16-6 lead.
The Scots fought back to score three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, but Berry reliever Charles Stephenson came on and blanked Maryville on one hit over the final two frames. Berry improved to 6-2 since losing to the Scots back on March 8, improving to 15-7 overall.
Maryville is now 11-7.
"We had a slow start today that put us behind," Scots head coach Clint Helton said. "After the fifth inning, we played really well. I'm proud of the way this group never lays down. We have a very competitive team, and that will always give us a chance."
Berry built a 7-1 advantage through four innings, with Ian Campbell's sacrifice fly in the second accounting for the lone Maryville tally.
First Collegiate Round-Trippers
But Smith belted his first collegiate home run to spark the Maryville comeback. Christian Carlton and Zac Graham followed with singles, and Carlton scored on a Berry throwing error. One out later, Meredith followed with his first collegiate home run, a line shot to left.
Kendall Catlett's RBI-double keyed Maryville's three-run sixth, and Smith contributed his own run-scoring double to spark a two-run seventh.
Meredith finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two driven in, while Smith was 2-for-6 with two scored and three RBIs. Nic Mirabella in his third start of the season took the loss and stands 0-1. Tommy Musuras was solid in two innings of relief work, allowing one run on four hits, while DJ Cooper pitched the final 3 and 2/3 innings and struck out six.
The Scots are back in action this weekend in a three-game series against DePauw. Play begins with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch from Scotland Yard is 1 p.m.
