Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Maryville Scores 10 in Both Games
Photos by Moriah Tant & Wallace Bowden
MARYVILLE – Seven runs in the first turn at bat was a heck of a way to begin a USA South doubleheader.
That's exactly what happened when Maryville put seven on the board early against LaGrange and swept past the Panthers 10-1 and 10-2 here Saturday afternoon. The Scots pounded out 11 hits in the opener and 12 in the Game 2 while improving to 4-0 in USA South play.
Both games were halted in the fifth inning by the run rule.
Maryville also picked up a pair of quality complete game pitching starts. Megan Ackerman allowed just three hits and an unearned run in notching her ninth victory of the season. The lefthander struck out seven over her five frames and walked just one.
Kennedy Sharp Again
In the second game, Kennedy Henry continued to emerge after limiting the Panthers to just six hits and the two runs while walking only two. Henry notched her second victory of the week and is now 2-1.
"Seasons are always about highs and lows," Maryville head coach Leah Kelley said. "Heading into conference, this is when we must get everything going right. Our pitchers are really starting to get a feel for the game and our offense really showed up today. That's the offense Scot Softball is used to seeing."
Kelley said the emphasis in practice this week was low line drives instead of trying for the long ball. Maryville in the doubleheader laced six doubles, including two apiece by Emily Hill and Brecca Williams.
"We worked on hitting the ball hard and keeping it low, and they executed very well today," Kelley said. "With this team, we have extra-base hit power. No reason to try and hit the ball over the fence when we can hit doubles and triples."
Hill Takes Over RBI Lead
Hill was 1-for-3 in the first game and then 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs in the nightcap. Showing strength to all fields, Hill in that second game laced an RBI-single to center in the first inning, pulled a two-run double to the fence in right in the second, and then clinched the run-rule win with a slicing line drive to left center that plated the final two tallies in the fifth.
The sophomore first baseman took over the team lead in runs batted in with 20.
"I felt really good," Hill said. "I was really seeing the ball and comfortable looking for my pitch. I got my front foot down and was ready to explode on it. We've been working really hard in practice, and it's great to see it all coming together out on the field."
Goodloe Getting It Going
Amaya Goodloe was 2-for-2 with two runs scored in the first game and 1-for-3 in the second. The senior right fielder said after the game that Maryville's challenging nonconference schedule is paying dividends now.
"Playing those tough opponents like Emory, Berry and Birmingham-Southern, and those ranked teams like Christopher Newport, really prepared us," said Goodloe, who is third on the team in batting at .389. "Now we just feel so ready to go in conference."
Team batting leader Kaitlin Woodruff delivered two hits in three trips to the plate in both games. The sophomore shortstop, who missed this year's first eight games with an injury, is up to .468 and is 7-for-10 over her last three games.
Jenica Brown was 3-for-6 on the afternoon with three runs scored, and Ava Whitmire went a combined 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Brown swiped a base in each game and now leads the team with 18 steals.
Maryville improved to 13-11 overall, while LaGrange dropped to 6-19 and 2-4. The Scots are scheduled to play Tuesday at Piedmont in another USA South doubleheader. They are home next weekend for a Saturday 1 p.m. twin bill against Wesleyan.
