Photos by Connor Gahagan and Wallace Bowden
SEWANEE, Tenn. – Offense ruled the day as Maryville and Sewanee split an entertaining softball doubleheader on a blustery Wednesday afternoon in Middle Tennessee.
The Scots rallied to win the opener 10-6 before the Tigers returned the favor in the nightcap by an 11-8 score. The teams combined for 36 runs and 50 hits in this evenly matched twin bill.
The non-sister duo of Jada and
Jessica Harris delivered key RBI base hits in Maryville's four-run seventh inning to spark the Game 1 victory.
Jada Harris had the winning pinch single to drive home
Campbell White, who had singled with one out.
Jessica Harris followed with a two-run double, and
Brecca Williams added insurance with her own RBI single.
Jacey Goetzinger made her first appearance of the season and picked up the victory. She went the final two innings and did not allow a baserunner while striking out one.
Maryville rallied from 5-2 down in the nightcap to take an 8-6 lead to the last of the fifth. Goetzinger was into her fourth inning of work in Game 2 in relief of starter
Paige Dickinson when the Tigers finally got to her for five big runs to take an 11-8 lead.
The Scots rallied in the ninth, scoring on
Jessica Harris' run-scoring single with one out. Maryville had the tying runners aboard when Dickinson lined out to left and
Olivia Harris grounded into a fielder's choice to end it 11-9.
Williams, Dickinson Stay Hot
For the doubleheader, Williams was 6-for-9 with two triples, two runs scored and five driven in, while Dickinson finished 6-for-10 with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBIs.
Kaylee Peyret was 3-for-6 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs, and
Jessica Harris finished 3-for-9 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Ryleigh Maples returned to the lineup and went 0-for-3 in Game 1 before returning to her groove with a 2-for-4 showing in the nightcap.
Ashtyn Barga finished 2-for-6 with three runs scored and one driven in, and
Olivia Harris had just one hit but it was a doozy – her first Maryville homer to complement two runs scored and two RBIs.
"We competed really well at the plate today," Maryville head coach
Jill Moore said. "We had freshmen come up in some big situations and deliver pinch hits. We were a tough lineup to pitch to and I'm proud of how we adjusted at bat to at bat.
"Jacey did a fantastic job in her first game action, coming on in relief twice. We're happy she is healthy because she gives us good depth in our bullpen. We are ready to start conference Friday!"
Both Maryville and Sewanee stand 6-12 after Wednesday's results. These two teams are on tap to be conference foes when the 2027 softball season rolls around.
The Scots host Asbury (7-5, 0-2 CCS) this Friday in their Collegiate Conference of the South opener. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. More home twin bills follow Sunday against Huntingdon and Monday against Centre.
