MARYVILLE – Don't let that .500 record fool you. Maryville is playing good ball against quality competition.
The Scots split a pair of Sunday games in the rain-abbreviated Maryville College Invitational, pounding Wittenberg 9-1 in five innings before dropping a 1-0 pitchers duel against No. 5-ranked Berry. In between those two games, Berry knocked off Wittenberg 9-0 in six innings.
Megan Ackerman was superb in the circle for the Scots against Berry. The southpaw went the route for her second complete game of the season, allowing one run on four hits and striking out six against just one walk.
Her only blemish was a line drive home run in the fifth inning off the bat of Vikings first baseman Morgan Frye.
"We were in the ballgame the whole time, and Megan threw a phenomenal game," Maryville head coach
Jill Moore said. "It was a good matchup against the No. 5 team in the country, and Megan held them to four hits.
"We are going to figure out ways to adjust sooner and get her some more run-support, but it was a good ballgame to be a part of. It was fun. We want to come out on the other end, but I'm really proud of how we played."
Going the Distance
Ackerman has an 0-2 pitching record thus far but both of her starts have been complete games and she's sporting a 1.50 ERA with just one walk over her 14 innings.
Jenica Brown beat out an infield single with two outs in the sixth to break up a no-hit bid by Berry's Hannah Gore. Then
Brecca Williams singled leading off the seventh and was at second with one away, but the Scots couldn't bring her home.
Gore finished with 10 strikeouts for Berry, which improved to 7-1.
Koonce Is Crushing
In the first game,
Sara Koonce drilled two home runs and also tripled to lead an 11-hit Maryville attack in just five innings. Koonce was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and for the season is batting .615 with two home runs and five RBIs. Her on-base plus slugging percentage is currently a ridiculous 2.105.
"Sara is swinging a great bat right now," Moore said. "She is doing a lot for us in the second spot, and I really like her there."
Bailey Myers and
Ava Whitmire contributed two hits apiece, with Dickinson helping her own cause at the plate. She produced a bases-loaded walk and an RBI-double against the Tigers, who were playing their season opener.
First Win, First Save
Dickinson went the first 3 and 2/3 innings, allowed an unearned run on one hit but walking four. She earned her first collegiate victory. Henry came on for the final four outs and allowed just one hit for her first collegiate save.
"Our offense was on the ball, and we made good adjustments," Moore said. "I was happy with how we were seeing the ball. We played great defense behind Paige and Kennedy, who were a good 1-2 punch for us.
"Base-running and offensively, we are right there. We are doing a good job."
Grand Slam Triangle Classic
The Scots at 2-2 on the season play again Friday at the largest collegiate softball tournament in the country, the Grand Slam Triangle Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina. Maryville is one of an event-record 37 teams from 14 states playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Walnut Creek Softball Complex.
Maryville's schedule lines up like this:
Friday
10 a.m. – N.C. Wesleyan, Field 4
2 p.m. – Elmira, Field 4
Saturday
10 a.m. – Rowan, Field 8
2 p.m. – Denison, Field 8
Sunday
10 a.m. – Shenandoah, Field 8
Noon – Bethany (W.Va.), Field 6
Gate fees each day are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and children under 10 are free.
