MARYVILLE – Maryville showed absolutely zero signs of rust from a 10-day layoff and throttled Covenant in a Wednesday doubleheader by the scores of 5-0 and 9-0. The second game was shortened to five innings by the run-rule.
Megan Ackerman hurled the first game and scattered four hits over her seven innings. The lefthander struck out eight and didn't issue a walk – her second straight game of seven innings, no runs and no walks.
Paige Dickinson managed the pitching duties in Game 2 and allowed just one hit, a clean single in the first, over her five innings.
Dickinson retired the last 13 batters she faced.
"We played great today; all around," Maryville head coach
Jill Moore said. "Megan and Paige gave us outstanding performances. Back-to-back shutouts, Paige throwing a one-hitter, neither pitcher walking a batter – that gave us all the momentum we needed."
On offense, Maryville outhit Covenant 23-5, including a 14-1 advantage over just five innings in the nightcap.
Bailey Myers had the big game in the opener, going 3-for-3 with four runs driven in, while
Brecca Williams was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Game 2 saw several Scots swinging a hot bat. Williams tripled to lead off the game on her way to a 3-for-4 showing with three runs driven in.
Sara Koonce was 3-for-3 in the game and 4-for-6 for the afternoon, driving in a pair. And
Emily Hill contributed a 3-for-6 effort in the two games with two runs scored and two driven in.
Ava Whitmire in the second game was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one driven in, and
Cierra Hudson reached safely on a pair of bunt singles to score two runs.
Micayla Clark sparked a four-run fourth inning with a two-run single to center that put the visitors in front 3-0.
'Production 1 Through 9'
"We were a little slow to start offensively in Game 2, but we made the adjustments we needed to make very quickly and we were all over them," Moore said. "I was happy with the way we responded in Game 2.
"We got production 1 through 9. Micayla came through in a big situation in that second game to really keep us on top. Brecca and Sara in the 1 and 2 holes continue to set the table for us. Whether it's driving in runs or finding ways to get on both – both were outstanding."
Koonce upped her season batting average to .413, with Williams close behind at .411. Myers is at .384 and Hill at .339. In the circle, Ackerman improved to 7-8 with a 1.81 ERA that is second in the conference. Dickinson saw her record bump to 5-2 with a 2.65 ERA.
Next up for the Maryville Scots is a trip to Mississippi. Maryville is scheduled to play at doubleheader at Mississippi-Women (14-12) on Friday and a CCS twin bill at first-place Belhaven (20-11) on Saturday. The Blazers are 10-2 in league play.
Maryville is now 16-11 overall and 8-2 in the CCS, tied with Piedmont for second place. Covenant's losing streak bumps to eight games as the Scots fall to 8-17 and 2-8.
"Today was good work for us going into the weekend," Moore said. "We know we're going to be tested at Belhaven, but we're excited for it and we're ready for it. I would put this team up against anybody."
