MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The Maryville Scots protected home field Saturday afternoon, grinding out a 4-1 victory before erupting for an 8-0 shutout to sweep LaGrange at the MC Softball Complex.
Stewart Goes the Distance as Scots Break Through Late
Game one was a pitcher's duel through four innings before Maryville found its spark in the fifth.
After LaGrange scratched across the game's first run in the top of the fifth, the Scots responded immediately. Sydney Dickinson sparked the rally with a single and stolen base, and a pair of well-executed sacrifices moved runners into scoring position. Emma Blankenship delivered the equalizer with an RBI single to center, and Catie Zani followed with a run-scoring base hit to give Maryville the lead. A stolen base by pinch runner Karli Hammontree forced a throw that allowed Blankenship to score, pushing the Scots in front 3-1.
Maryville added an insurance run in the sixth when Dickinson singled again and later came around on Blankenship's second RBI knock of the afternoon.
Blankenship paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Zani added two hits and a run driven in, while Dickinson finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk.
In the circle, Tia Stewart was steady from start to finish. The right-hander tossed a complete-game seven-hitter, allowing just one unearned run while striking out five to earn her second win of the season. Stewart worked out of multiple jams, stranding eight runners and holding LaGrange to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Scots Capitalize on Big Third, Dickinson Tosses Shutout
Maryville carried the momentum into game two, using a four-run third inning to seize control before pulling away late in an 8-0 run-rule victory.
The Scots broke through in the third as Jessica Harris singled to ignite the offense. Sydney Dickinson followed with a base hit, and the pressure mounted from there. Paige Dickinson ripped an RBI single to right-center to open the scoring, and Maryville took advantage of LaGrange miscues to plate three more runs in the frame. A sacrifice fly from Kaylee Peyret capped the inning and gave the Scots a 4-0 cushion.
Maryville added four more in the fifth. Zani doubled to left-center to drive in a run, Paige Dickinson followed with a double of her own, and RBI contributions from Ryleigh Maples and Harris helped end the contest early.
Paige Dickinson led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Zani finished with a double and an RBI, while Maples and Harris each drove in a run. The Scots made the most of six hits, capitalizing on four LaGrange errors to keep innings alive.
Sydney Dickinson was dominant in the circle, firing a two-hit shutout over five innings. She struck out four and worked around three walks to secure her first win of the season.
With the sweep, Maryville moves to 4-3 on the year and builds momentum heading into tomorrow's matchup against Sewanee.
