Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Koonce Homers Twice, Goodloe 3-for-3
Photos by Wallace Bowden
MARYVILLE – Maryville's bats were hot in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Agnes Scott.
The Scots won the first USA South tilt 10-2 and the second 12-4. It is the third league DH of the year where MC hit the run rule into effect in both games.
"We showed fight all day," Maryville head coach Leah Kelley said. "There were some mistakes made, but they found a way to win. That's what matters."
The day was also especially memorable for Kelley as her father Charlie Williams acted as her assistant for the two wins.
Game 1: Maryville 10, Agnes Scott 2
The teams went back and forth in the early stages of the opening game. Agnes Scott put the first run of the day up in the top of the first. The Scots answered back in the bottom of the second when a Kaliyah Hensic double sent a pinch-running Cierra Hudson home.
The Scotties answered back in the third with a solo run scored, but Maryville took the lead in the bottom of the frame.
An Annie Fowler walk plated the junior before an Amaya Goodloe single, and a subsequent Agnes Scott error, placed MC runners on first and third. A Kaitlin Woodruff single sent Fowler home and Goodloe scored during the next at-bat.
After a fourth that saw Agnes Scott held to zero runs, the Scots got to building their lead even more.
"Our team started making adjustments," said Kelley. "We were getting beat by Agnes Scott early in their first at-bats, but they made the necessary changes. That shows in the score and how we came back in later innings."
Hudson and Fowler hit singles in the bottom of the fourth, with Fowler scoring Hudson. Goodloe was next and hit an inside-the-park home run that brought three MC runs home. After a Scot strikeout, Woodroof hit a solo home run to score the last of five runs in the frame.
Two more runs came in for Maryville in the sixth to enact the run rule and give the Scots the win.
Megan Ackerman got the start for the home team and had an excellent day. She struck out eight batters, coming one shy of tying her career high. She allowed only two earned runs on seven hits.
Goodloe was a perfect 3-for-3 for Maryville and had three RBI. Woodruff also had three RBI and was 2-for-3 in the batter's box with a home run.
Game 2: Maryville 12, Agnes Scott 4
The Scots started the second contest falling behind and facing a 4-2 deficit going into the bottom of the third. Much like the first game, Maryville's adjustments turned things around quickly.
Sara Koonce hit a two-run home run to tie the game just three batters into the bottom of the third frame.
After an Emily Hill walk, Hudson reaching on a fielder's choice, and a Brecca Williams single, Hensic hit a single that scored Hudson. Fowler was next for the Scots and hit a double to left center that brought two more runners home.
The final runs of the frame were courtesy of Jennica Brown. The junior hit a two-RBI single to right field.
Two errors from Agnes Scott on a Goodloe base-stealing attempt led to the MC runner scoring in the bottom of the fifth.
Koonce hit her second homer of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Her solo home run placed the Scots one run short of the run rule. Three singles came after Koonce and loaded the bases with two outs. The final run, that ended the game, was a bases-loaded walk that sent Hill in.
Fowler had a game-high four RBI in the game and hit a double, while Koonce was next with three RBI and two home runs. Hensic was 3-for-4 while Hill went 2-for-3 for Maryville. The 15 hits were the second most for the MC squad this season.
Kennedy Henry picked up her fifth win of the year in the circle. The pitcher struck out five and allowed four runs in her six innings of action. The five batters sat down is good for her second-best performance of the season.
"Playing a tough slate to start the season prepared us for this stretch of the season," Kelley said. "We started with a bunch of top 25 teams and it showed us how to fight in close games. That helps now as we battle and compete. We have to remember that we have already done that against some of the best teams in the country."
The Scots move to 18-14 overall and 9-3 in league play. Maryville is currently tied for second in the West Division with Huntingdon.
The Scots have two more USA South series left and start the final stretch with a Wednesday doubleheader at Brevard. Maryville finishes the regular season stretch with a conference DH against Huntingdon on Saturday before taking on the Hawks in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday.
