MARYVILLE – After recording just two runs on four hits on Day 1 of the tournament, Maryville's offense broke out in a big way Friday afternoon, defeating Piedmont 10-2 to eliminate the Lions.
Maryville recorded 13 hits, seven of which went for extra bases. That number is good for the Scots' most extra-base knocks of the season.
Zac Graham and
Colin Dunworth led the way for MC offensively, combining to go 7-for-8 with five of the Scots' seven extra-base hits.
Graham went 4-for-4 with two home runs. He rocketed a solo shot in the second inning to give the Scots a 1-0 lead before hitting another round-tripper in the eighth to make it 7-2. The third baseman has regained the team lead in homers after
Ashton Whiteaker tied it on Day 1. The senior has 8 home runs this season, just one away from his career high (9 in 2023).
Dunworth led the Scots with four RBIs, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles. He drove in one with a two-bagger in the sixth before roping a line drive over the left-center field wall to pick up three more RBIs.
Zach Devries and
Jimmy Meredith also recorded multiple hits in the contest, adding two knocks apiece to the MC hit total.
Max Bowers drove in two runs for Maryville in the fifth inning, picking up his 14th double of the season, tying for second on the squad with Dunworth and just behind Graham (15).
While the late-game power surge was the driving force behind the Scots' big win, timely hitting was also a major contributor to their success at the plate. MC was 7-for-14 with runners on base, including an impressive 3-for-3 performance from Dunworth with ducks on the pond. Maryville left just four runners on base.
The Scots were 6-for-13 with two outs, scoring all three of their fifth-inning runs with one out remaining in the inning.
Nic Mirabella picked up his fourth win of the season on the mound. In his 13th start of the year, he pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing two runs while scattering nine hits. The junior walked just one batter while striking out four.
Chris Arbuthnot closed out the game, pitching two innings while facing the minimum number of Lions batters.
In a combined 18 innings pitched over the first two days of the CCS tournament, Maryville pitchers have allowed just two runs (1.00 ERA) on 16 hits while striking out eight batters. Opponents are batting .239 off Scots arms over the first two games.
Maryville will play again Saturday morning against the winner of Friday afternoon's Belhaven vs. LaGrange game. First pitch of that game is currently TBA.
