Maryville softball team is getting ready for season
The Maryville College softball team hosted the Maryville College Classic on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. The Scots took on Emory University and Wittenberg University during the weekend classic. Before these games head coach, Jill Moore, said that she was excited for the team to be back home.
“We had a long week on the road, which was good for us to prepare for a long season. But, I’m excited for us to get back to practice on our field this week. It’s going to be a lot of what we’ve been doing all year; we just don’t have to get on a bus and stay in a hotel to go do it somewhere else.”
The softball team went 2-2 on the weekend, losing to both Emory and Wittenberg once. Maryville defeated Emory 12-4 before falling to Wittenberg 11-9 in extra innings Saturday afternoon on day one of the Maryville College Classic.
Against Emory, the Scots used an eight-run fourth inning to run-rule the Eagles, finishing the game in five innings. Maryville College picked up seven hits, including a grand slam, which was a no-doubter from Paige Dickinson, to pick up the first four runs of the inning.
Facing Wittenberg next, the Scots combined for six extra-base hits while holding Wittenberg to just one. Maryville was down by one in the bottom of the seventh with a score of 8-7, until Kaitlin Woodruff hit a sac-fly scoring Paige Dickinson to tie the ball game back up.
The Tigers had 15 hits to Maryville’s 12 but didn’t pick up their lone extra-base knock until an eighth-inning RBI double to extend Wittenberg’s lead to three in extras. The Scots would eventually fall to Wittenberg 11-9 in the bottom of the eighth.
The Scots made it all the way back with a three-run sixth. After Maples reached on an error, Bailey Myers and Micayla Clark dropped perfect bunt singles to load the bases. Cortney Baine made it a 3-2 game after a sacrifice fly to left advancing Maples home, then Brecca Williams tied the game with a single to left, scoring Myers. Sara Koonce pushed Maryville in front with a sac fly of her own to center field that scored Clark. The Scots held on from there winning 4-3.
In the second and final game of the Maryville College Classic on Sunday afternoon, the Scots faced the Eagles falling short with a score of 4-2. Maryville was down 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, until the Scots were able to spark up a rally.
Bailey Myers led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single and Ryleigh Maples drew a walk. With one out, Micayla Clark blasted a double to right center, which resulted in Myers scoring. As Clark was racing to second base, the throw coming from the outfield struck her in the knee, and rolled into short left center. Maples ended up scoring and Clark made it all the way to third base. What was a 4-0 ball was now a 4-2 game with only one out.
However, Emory’s pitcher ended up retiring the last two Scots, holding the Scots to only two runs.
Maryville concluded their six-game weekend of softball with a Monday afternoon doubleheader against Austin College. The Scots swept the Roos 3-1 and 4-2 to give them four wins since Saturday, making their overall record 9-5.
During game one, Campbell White came into pinch hit in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runners on and two outs in a 1-1 ball game. White smashed the first pitch she saw deep down the left field line to score Kaitlin Woodruff and Micayla Clark.
The Scots were able to hold Austin College to a final score of 3-1, ending the game in style.
In the second game, Maryville led 4-2 in the top of the third but the Roos were threatening for more runs. The Scots changed pitchers and went to junior righthander Whitney Carr, who gave one of the best performances of her short Maryville career.
Carr ended up getting three quick outs to escape the top of the third inning, putting up zeros all across the scoreboard. This allowed the Scots to collect their second win of the day, with a final score of 4-2.
Bailey Myers, senior, was asked about her feelings moving forward and said, “I think this weekend was a good test for us. We played three great teams that tested us on the field.”
“We learned a lot this weekend, and it is only going to make us stronger moving forward this season, and I believe this team will go far. As a team, we are prepared for anything that will be thrown at us.”
Now, the Scots can rest up during an 11-day break before their next home game on March 9 against Birmingham Southern. The Scots will then head to Virginia during Spring Break to play doubleheaders at Roanoke, Southern Virginia and Randolph before opening up conference play at Berea College on March 16.