MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Max Bowers hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday afternoon to give Maryville a 9-8 victory over Asbury in Game 1 of the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis. The Scots split the twin bill though, dropping Game 2 against host Rhodes 5-1
Maryville entered the ninth inning of Game 1 down 8-7. The Scots recorded four hits and walked once without recording a single out in their comeback effort.
Ashton Whiteaker led off the frame with a double to left field, and
Zac Graham, who had homered twice already in the contest, was put on base via intentional walk. The Scots loaded then loaded the bases with a pinch-hit single from
Cody Meier.
Hunter Thaxton drove in the tying run with an RBI single to left field, scoring
Reece Jordan who was pinch-running for Whiteaker, to make it 8-8.
Bowers' walk-off hit came on a single down the left field line, putting the Scots ahead 9-8 as
Matt Hall came around to score the winning run.
Maryville hit a season-high three home runs in the contest, two off the bat of Graham in the fifth and seventh innings and one from
Christian Carlton in the second.
Carlton led the Scots in the game with three hits, going 3-for-5 with a team-high three RBIs. He also reached base via walk and scored two runs in the contest.
Nic Mirabella got the start for MC in Game 1, pitching 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters. This outing matches his season-high in innings pitched and strikeouts while marking a low in runs allowed.
Chris Arbuthnot picked up the win for Maryville, setting the Eagles down one-two-three with two punchouts in the top of the ninth to allow the Scots to come back in the bottom of the inning.
In Game 2 against Rhodes, Maryville was held scoreless until the eighth inning when Carlton brought home
Colin Dunworth with a sacrifice fly. The Lynx scored all five of their runs in the first two innings.
After coming into the game in relief in the sixth inning,
Bryce Einstein pitched the final three innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while facing just one batter over the minimum. He struck out two batters in the contest.
Maryville has one more game in the Rhodes Invitational, facing off against Grinnell Saturday in Memphis. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central.
