Box Score Good Battle Versus No. 4 Panthers
LaGRANGE, Ga. – Maryville played tough against the No. 4 team in the country but dropped a 7-5 decision in Game 1 of a three-game USA South series.
The Scots broke in front 3-0. They scored a run in the first inning on Jimmy Meredith's RBI single to right, and then added two more in the third on Zac Graham's two-run homer to right center. It was Graham's team-leading fifth home run of the season.
Bryce Leonhardt held the Panthers hitless over the first three frames before they got to the big righthander in the fourth. On just 17 pitches, LaGrange scored five times thanks to a leadoff triple, two doubles and three singles for a 5-3 lead.
Maryville worked its way back to a 5-5 tie, scoring single runs in the fifth and seventh. In the fifth, a two-out fielding error on the infield allowed Gabe Lopez to score from third. Lopez had walked with one out and moved around on a Christian Carlton single. In the seventh, Carlton led off with a single, moved to second and third on passed balls, and scored on Graham's sac fly to center.
But LaGrange staged the winning rally in the last of the seventh. McKinley Erves led off with his second triple of the game and scored one out later on a balk call against Leonhardt. Jack Layrisson then doubled, and he eventually came home on a David Smigelski sacrifice fly to center.
Leonhardt took his second loss of the season, falling to 6-2. LaGrange reliever Jacob Brown picked up the victory after two innings of work and improved to 6-0. Panthers starter Baley Coleman fanned nine Scots over the first six innings.
Carlton Big Day at Plate
Carlton was 3-for-4 to lead the Maryville offense, while Graham was 1-for-3 with his home run and knocked in a game-high three. LaGrange's Erves finished 3-for-4 with the two triples and two runs scored.
Maryville remains third in the West Division standings at 7-6. Piedmont lost at home to Huntingdon on Friday night and is now 6-7. Covenant is playing nonconference this weekend and stands 7-8.
Game 2 is Saturday at 2 p.m.
