Box Score Smith Stellar in 5-for-6 Outing
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Maryville toppled Bob Jones for a second time in 2022, this time by a mark of 11-5 in non-conference action.
It was a slow start for the Scots, with the visiting team being outscored 4-1 over the first four innings.
Gabe Lopez and Nelson Smith racked up hits in the top of the first, but no runs followed. Single hits also came for Maryville in the second and third frames, but the lack of scoring continued.
Max Bowers hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to cut into the deficit. Smith moved things along for the Scots after doubling in top of the fifth, stealing third, and scoring on a balk.
"We scratched a couple of runs early, but had trouble getting a consistent flow to our offense," said Maryville head coach Clint Helton. "Some mistakes early from walks and errors led to them getting ahead."
That consistent flow came in the seventh inning. Lopez hit a single after the first Scot batter flied out. Smith then homered to bring both of them home.
Zac Graham singled immediately after and a balk moved him to second. Christian Carlton was next in the order and hit a single that brought a pinch running Carter Crow in.
One batter later Bowers tripled to score Carlton before a Zach Fritts single sent Bowers home. The six-hit stretch moved Maryville ahead 7-4. The lead was cut to 7-5 in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly from Bob Jones, but that was the last runner to come home for the host squad.
The Scots offense was not done yet. In the eighth two more runs came home for Maryville. Lopez hit the third MC home run of the game and Smith scored on a failed pick off attempt after reaching second on an earlier double.
Two more runs were tacked on by the Scots in the final inning. Bowers scored on a passed ball after reaching on a double and moving to third on another passed ball. A Lopez single brought Fritts home for the final run of the game.
Have A Day!
Senior outfielder Nelson Smith had a career day in the batters box for Maryville. He notched a career-high five hits in six appearances at the plate with two RBIs. Smith also hit a career-best three doubles and a two run homer.
Fritts was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run while Lopez and Bowers each added two RBIs for the Scots.
Maryville had four pitchers take to the mound in the Tuesday tilt. Tanner Hurd got the start and pitched three and 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and three earned runs. It was D.J. Cooper who earned the win, his second of the season. Cooper pitched for one and 2/3 innings and struck out three while only surrendering one run.
Grady Cash was the final hurler for the Scots and has a great showing. He struck out five of the seven batters he faced in the final two innings of action.
"Big offensive performance today from Nelson Smith. Our bullpen was solid today and helped us get the win," said Helton.
The long road trip for Maryville continues this weekend. The Scots play three USA South contests at Covenant starting with a solo game on Friday and ending with a Saturday doubleheader.
