JACKSON, Miss. – Maryville's improved play of late ran into a No. 12-ranked wall Saturday as the Scots dropped a pair at Belhaven.
The host Blazers prevailed 6-4 and 7-5 in excruciating fashion to halt Maryville's stretch of nine wins in the last 10 games. Belhaven used sixth-inning rallies in both games to deny the Scots a signature win for the season and improve to 26-7 overall and 12-2 in the Collegiate Conference of the South.
Maryville is now 16-18 overall and 8-6 in the CCS.
Maryville took advantage of two Belhaven errors in the second inning of Game 1 to score four times and take a 4-0 lead. After a throwing error plated two,
Brecca Williams followed with an RBI-single and
Ryleigh Maples did the same.
The Scots from that point on were limited to just one hit by Belhaven pitcher Macy Funderburk, who came in and pitched the final five innings for the win. Maryville starting pitcher
Jacey Goetzinger went the distance for the second straight game and took the tough-luck loss. The first-year hurler allowed six runs on eight hits with one strikeout.
In the second game, Maryville rallied twice to take leads only to be denied in the end.
The Scots scored three times in the third inning to go in front 3-1.
Ashtyn Barga and Williams opened with singles before
Paige Dickinson delivered a three-run homer, her fifth of the season.
After the Blazers tied the game 3-3, Maryville scored twice in the top of the sixth for a 5-3 advantage.
Jessica Harris singled and moved up on a wild pitch. Two outs later,
Catie Zani singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw home. Barga followed with an RBI-single to right field and the Scots were in front by two.
But Belhaven delivered its championship credentials in the last of the sixth, homering to tie the game and then scoring one run each against Dickinson and relief pitcher
Tia Stewart. Dickinson took the loss and Funderburk pitched the complete game for Belhaven, improving to 13-3.
Dickinson finished 4-for-8 at the plate to lead Maryville's offense for the day. She had a double, a homer and three RBIs while lifting her batting average to .374. Zani and Barga were both a combined 2-for-4. Zani had an RBI and a run scored, boosting her average to an even .300. Barga scored twice and drove one in. The first-year outfielder is batting .363.
Maryville is in action again Friday for the final home twin bill of 2025. Piedmont visits for Senior Day and a 2 p.m. start, with festivities taking place approximately 15 minutes before Game 1.
