MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Maryville's five-game winning streak ended Saturday with a pair of one-run road defeats against No. 18-ranked Huntingdon.
The host Hawks prevailed 2-1 and 7-6, improving to 19-3 overall and 2-0 in conference. Maryville drops to 17-9 and 2-2.
Two Huntingdon home runs, one in each game, were decisive. The first one in the opener by Bailey Murphy gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead against Maryville ace
Megan Ackerman. The Scots tied it in the fourth when
Bailey Myers delivered a two-out single off the glove of Hawks third baseman Maddie Grace Hubbard that scored
Brecca Williams from second.
Williams had singled to start the inning.
But Huntingdon answered in the fifth when Murphy delivered a grounder that scored Brooke Stefankiewicz from third. Maryville had a chance at an inning-ending double play, but Murphy beat the throw at first and the Hawks led 2-1.
Dueling Aces
Huntingdon first-year sensation Allie Roberts finished it from there, completing her seven-inning gem and winning her 10th game of the year to match Ackerman. Roberts and Ackerman allowed one earned run apiece, with Roberts permitting four hits and Ackerman six. Roberts struck out eight and Ackerman three, with neither hurler allowing a walk.
Roberts improved to 10-2 and Ackerman is now 10-3.
Maryville jumped in front 3-0 in the second game.
Paige Dickinson had an RBI-ground out in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. Then in the top of the third,
Haynie Jane Gilstrap and
Micayla Clark delivered run-scoring singles in support of starter
Whitney Carr.
But Huntingdon chased Carr in the bottom of the third, scoring four times after two were out to go in front 4-3.
After the Hawks scored a controversial run in the fifth – on consecutive plays, it appeared a bunt was picked up foul but was ruled fair, and then a Huntingdon base-runner appeared to collide with Myers at shortstop as she was fielding a grounder, but umpires ruled it a simple tag play – Maryville answered by retaking the lead in the sixth.
Koonce Keys Late Rally
Cierra Hudson walked and moved to second on a single by
Ava Whitmire. One out later, Williams' sharp grounder was booted at second and Hudson came around to score. With runners at second and third,
Sara Koonce singled to center to push the Scots in front 6-5.
But the home run ball bit Maryville again in the last of the sixth when Jordan Holman delivered a two-out blast to left-center field. The Scots went down in order in the seventh and Huntingdon had the series sweep.
Brooke Cooper started and finished for Huntingdon in the circle, improving to 5-1 after her combined 5 and 2/3 innings.
Mikayla Hoschak took the loss in relief for the Scots, dropping to 0-3.
A trio of Scots had multiple hits in the doubleheader. Koonce finished 4-for-6 with a run scored and two RBIs, Williams was 2-for-7 with three runs scored, and Myers posted 3-for-5 with a run scored and one driven in.
The Scots are right back in action Sunday afternoon, hosting Sewanee (5-19) for a twin bill at 3 o'clock. The Scots and Tigers are playing for the first time since 2005.
