DEMOREST, Ga. – Maryville scored four runs in the ninth inning to complete an epic comeback victory over Piedmont Friday night at Loudermilk Field.
The Scots walked away with a 7-4 victory over the Lions after entering the ninth inning down 4-3.
Maryville's bench played a significant role in their last-minute comeback.
The inning began with a leadoff single from pinch-hitting
Jacob Johnston. After doing his job getting on base, he was pinch-run for by
Carter Crow, who quickly advanced to third base on a single from
Zach Fritts, who also entered the game as a pinch-hitter.
With Crow on third, and Fritts on second after advancing to second following his hit,
Gabriel Lopez stepped up to the plate. The senior came through for his squad, hitting a double that allowed both Crow and Fritts to come around and score. The Naples, Florida, native drove in both the tying and winning run, putting the Scots up 5-4.
Maryville would pick up two more insurance runs in the inning.
Christian Carlton would bring in Lopez with his first triple of the season, and would later score as
Hunter Thaxton reached base on an error.
Thaxton led Maryville's offense with three hits on the day, including a second-inning solo home run. The Sophomore's long ball was his sixth of the season, good for second on the squad behind
Zac Graham (9).
Thaxton is also tied for second in the CCS, with Piedmont's Carter Ballstadt. The Greenbrier native also has three 3-hit games in his last five, increasing his batting average from .280 to .315 (35-for-111) during that stretch.
The Scots only other multi-hit performer was Lopez, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a team-high two RBIs, a run scored, and a walk.
Carlton led the squad with three walks, bringing his season total to a team-high 29. His 29 free passes rank third in the CCS behind Matthew Charbonnet (Belhaven, 37) and Rhett Mixon (LaGrange, 33).
Chris Arbuthnot earned the win in the contest, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits. Arbuthnot did not allow a free pass in the contest. He improved to 5-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 3.00 (12 ER/36 IP).
Maryville returns to action Saturday for a doubleheader against Piedmont to close out the regular season. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 2 p.m.
