COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Maryville Scots split a pair of games Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, defeating Spalding 11-3 in five innings before falling just short in a 7-6 battle against Gettysburg.
Maryville's offense remained productive throughout the day, recording 21 total hits across the two contests as the Scots moved to 11-5 on the season.
Scots Explode Late to Run-Rule Spalding
Maryville used a pair of big innings to surge past Spalding in the opener, scoring nine runs over the final two frames to secure an 11-3 run-rule victory.
The Scots struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Sydney Dickinson reached base and Catie Zani advanced the rally, Kaylee Peyret delivered a two-run double to right center to give Maryville a 2-0 advantage.
Spalding responded in the second inning with three unearned runs to briefly take the lead, but the Scots answered in the fourth with their biggest rally of the afternoon.
Abby Woodard worked a leadoff walk before Jessica Harris reached safely on a sacrifice bunt. Emma Blankenship followed with an RBI single to tie the game, setting the stage for a powerful swing from S. Dickinson. The sophomore blasted a three-run home run to right center to push Maryville back in front. One batter later, Zani launched a solo home run to center as the Scots plated five runs in the inning to take a 7-3 lead.
Maryville added four more runs in the fifth to seal the run-rule victory. J. Harris doubled to start the rally before S. Dickinson delivered again with an RBI double. Zani followed with an RBI single, and Olivia Harris capped the inning with a two-run single up the middle.
The Scots finished the opener with 12 hits. Dickinson led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance that included a home run, double and four RBIs. Zani added two hits and two RBIs, while J. Harris also recorded two hits and scored twice.
Inside the circle, Tia Stewart earned the win after tossing five innings and allowing just four hits while striking out six.
Late Rally Falls Short Against Gettysburg
Maryville battled back in the late innings but could not quite complete the comeback in a 7-6 loss to Gettysburg in the nightcap.
The Scots opened the scoring in the first inning when Paige Dickinson doubled to drive in S. Dickinson. Gettysburg answered with two runs in the bottom half before Maryville evened the score again in the second on an RBI single from Abby Woodard.
Gettysburg reclaimed the lead with a run in the third and later broke the game open in the fifth inning, plating three runs to build a 6-3 advantage.
Maryville trimmed the deficit in the fifth when Sydney Dickinson doubled to bring home Blankenship, but Gettysburg added another run in the sixth to push the lead to 7-3.
The Scots made things interesting in the final inning. Emma Lakin drew a leadoff walk before Blankenship reached on an error. Dickinson delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a two-run triple to center, and Kaylee Peyret followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one.
Maryville had the tying run in scoring position but could not find the final hit as Gettysburg held on for the 7-6 win.
The Scots totaled nine hits in the contest. S. Dickinson once again led the offense, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Blankenship added two hits and scored twice, while Peyret and Woodard each drove in a run.
S. Dickinson started in the circle for Maryville, working four innings before Whitney Carr entered in relief and tossed the final two frames.
Maryville returns to action Sunday to continue play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia.
