TROUTVILLE, Va. – Jill Moore finally got the offensive explosion she was looking for, and it helped Maryville split a Spring Break doubleheader at Roanoke.
The Scots head coach watched her team lose a tough one 7-6 in the opener, but they rallied to win 9-2 in the nightcap. Monday was the first of three straight doubleheaders Maryville is playing in Virginia during this week off from classes.
It also was the team's first action since Feb. 26, a two-week layoff due to scheduling and weather. But Moore was happy the Scots got the sticks going to the tune of 15 runs on 23 hits over the twin bill.
Whitney Carr (3-0) was the pitching beneficiary of the second game outburst, hurling five innings and allowing two runs on eight hits for her third victory of the season.
Paige Dickinson covered the final two innings and blanked the Maroons on just one single.
"We hit the ball well today in both games," Moore said. "I am really happy with the adjustments we continue to make. Whitney gave us a strong start in Game 2, and it was great for Paige to close it out for her. We need to clean up our D a little bit, but with two weeks off, we'll get the rust out.
"I'm confident in the direction we are heading."
Koonce Career High
Sara Koonce in Game 2 went 2-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs. She belted a two-run homer to get the Scots started in the first and then closed out the scoring with a three-RBI double in Maryville's four-run fifth. Koonce is up to a team-leading 16 RBIs for the season.
Brecca Williams reached base all five times in Game 2, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks. Williams for the doubleheader was 5-for-7 with two runs scored and two batted in.
Cambell White and
Emily Hill also had a pair of hits each in the second game, with Hill driving home one run via a sacrifice fly in Maryville's four-run first. White with her 2-for-3 effort in both games now leads the team in hitting at .435.
Bailey Myers and
Cierra Hudson had two hits apiece in the first game, helping Maryville outhit Roanoke 12-7. But the Scots left nine on base and Roanoke's Shaniya Lewis delivered a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the last of the sixth that flipped a 6-5 Maryville lead into a 7-6 Maroons triumph.
Maryville loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Hudson lined to left for the final out.
Megan Ackerman (6-2) took a tough loss in the circle in Game 1. Over her six innings, she allowed just three earned runs on seven hits, striking out four without allowing a walk. Three Maryville errors proved decisive.
The Scots are in action Tuesday at Southern Virginia in another doubleheader. Start time from Buena Vista is 2 p.m. On Wednesday, Maryville visits Randolph for a noon twin bill.
