PEARL, Miss. – After Friday's Collegiate Conference of the South opener was canceled due to inclement weather, Maryville and Belhaven faced off Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
The Scots narrowly dropped Game 1 by a score of 6-5, despite outhitting the Blazers 9-6 in the contest. MC took the nightcap 8-3 behind a strong performance from starting pitcher Nic Mirabella (1-1, 6.04).
Friday's canceled game will not be rescheduled, leaving the Scots and Blazers tied 1-1 for the 2024 regular season.
While Maryville's offense scored eight runs in Game 2, it was Mirabella's performance as the starting pitcher that led MC to victory.
Picking up his first win of the season, the junior pitched a season-high six innings Saturday afternoon. He allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Two of those hits and the lone run came in the first inning.
Over the next five frames the Ringgold, Georgia, native allowed just three base runners on a walk, a hit, and a hit by pitch.
Jacob Johnston led the Maryville offense in Game 2, going 3-for-4 with a double and a team-high three RBIs. Zach Devries, Daniel Montana, and Max Bowers each added two hits in the contest while Zac Graham picked up one. Devries and Bowers each crossed the plate three times for the Scots in Game 2.
Devries was 4-for-10 with a triple, two RBI and five runs scored across two games while Bowers picked up a double in each contest.
In Game 1, Maryville scored three runs in the first three innings, taking a 3-0 lead before giving up a five in the third. Belhaven scored one more in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead. The Scots clawed back, scoring one run apiece in the sixth and seventh to bring the game to its final score of 6-5.
Xavier Resto shined in relief for the Scots in Game 1, allowing just one hit and one walk while pitching four scoreless innings. The sophomore struck out two batters and improved his season ERA to 3.48 (8 ER/20.2 IP). Among Maryville pitchers with at least 10 innings pitched, Resto leads in ERA and batting average against (.229).
Maryville is back at Scotland Yard Tuesday Afternoon for the first of two midweek fixtures against Oberlin of the North Coast Atlantic Conference. The Scots and Yeomen face off on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on both days.
