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Box Score 2 MC Third in Division After 1-1 Wednesday
BREVARD, N.C. – A split for Maryville at Brevard made the final push in the USA South standings race that much more interesting.
The Scots took an 11-1 run-rule win to start the day, before falling 4-3 in the final contest.
With the split, MC moves to 19-15 overall and 10-4 in league play. Maryville is currently in third place in the USA South standings behind second-place Huntingdon, who travels to MC on Saturday.
Game 1: Maryville 11, Brevard 1
The Scots never trailed in the first Wednesday tilt.
Jenica Brown walked to start the game before a Kaitlin Woodruff single put up the first hit of the day. It was more bad news for the BC pitcher as she hit the next batter and loaded the bases. The Tornadoes made a pitching change immediately after.
The pitching change did not do much for Brevard as Emily Hill hit a two-RBI single in the next at-bat. Woes continued for the Tornadoes in the circle as she walked in two more runs later in the first.
No runs were scored in from the bottom of the first until the top of the third when the Maryville bats got hot again.
Courtney Deck got things off to a good start when she walked to open the third frame and then stole second. The next two batters for the Scots had quick outs with a flyout and a line out. Annie Fowler kept the visiting team in it with a single and Amaya Goodloe walked to load the bases.
Brown hit a single that sent two MC runners home and then stole second. Back-to-back doubles came next with Woodruff and Koonce notching those hits. The first scored two with the second bringing one home.
"In the first game we did a great job of making adjustments at the plate and scoring runners," said Maryville head coach Leah Kelley.
Brevard put up the only home run of the game in the bottom of the third. After a single and a fielder's choice plated two runners, a ground out allowed a Tornado runner to cross home.
The bats of Woodruff and Koonce provided the final two RBIs of the game. In the top of the fifth with Goodloe at first thanks to a walk, Woodruff doubled to center field to bring the speedy Goodloe home. Koonce was next in the batter's box and hit a single that brought Woodruff in.
Megan Ackerman turned in another stellar performance in the circle for the Scots. She struck out seven of the 19 batters she faced. The sophomore allowed just one run on two hits.
Woodruff led Maryville on offense with a 3-for-4 day that included two doubles. She also led the team in RBIs and runs with three in each category. Koonce was next with a 2-for-3 showing and two RBI. Brown and Hill also had multiple RBI showings with two each.
Game 2: Brevard 4, Maryville 3
Following the pattern of the first game, Woodruff had the first hit of the contest. The Scots' better singled through the left side before moving to second on a passed ball. Koonce had her second double of the day and scored Woodruff. Hill singled immediately after and brought Koonce home.
The Tornadoes tied things up in the bottom of the opening frame. Taylor Hannah stole home for BC to put the first run up and then a double brought another runner in for Brevard.
A third run scored for the Tornadoes in the bottom of the second. After a leadoff triple, Karley Queen singled to the shortstop and the home team took the lead.
Maryville tied things up at the top of the third frame. Goodloe hit a single to start the inning. She stole second before Brown was walked. Goodloe advanced to third on a flyout from Woodruff, and Brown stole second during the next at-bat. Koonce was at the plate next and a single from her notched an RBI that tied the game 3-3.
For the next three frames neither team was able to put up any runs. The Scots notched a hit in the top of the sixth on a Kaliyah Hensic single and one in the top of the seventh on a Goodloe single base hit. Neither hit turned into any more offense.
A double followed by consecutive singles for Brevard in the bottom of the seventh gave the home squad the walk-off 4-3 win.
Goodloe tied for the game-high in hits with a 2-for-3 showing. She also added two stolen bases in the matchup. Koonce notched a team-best two RBIs and had a double for Maryville. Hill added the other RBI for MC.
Kennedy Henry pitched one inning in her start and struck out two. Ackerman returned to action in relief and allowed one run over five innings and added a strikeout.
"Megan pitched great for us all day and the second game we did not back her up offensively," Kelley said. "We've got to do a better job of competing all day and backing our pitchers up by scoring runs on offense"
The No. 2 Hawks of Huntingdon come to town for a crucial doubleheader on Saturday. The Scots can lock in third place in the West Division with one win in the series. If Maryville wins both then MC will take second place in the division.
