MC Continues Rolling, Improves to 9-0 to Begin Season
MARYVILLE – Maryville was victorious in both ends of the doubleheader on Sunday to complete the sweep against Hanover at Scotland Yard. The Scots are 9-0 to begin 2023, marking their best start to a season since at least 2012.
MC played six hours and 27 minutes of baseball today, with the nightcap wrapping up in four hours and four minutes, the longest game of the season for the Scots.
Hunter Thaxton was the hero for Maryville in the Game 2 Marathon. With the game tied 8-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the righty hit a go-ahead grand slam, putting the Scots up 12-8.
Maryville had fallen behind early in Game 2, allowing four runs in the first three innings before scoring four of their own in the bottom of the third.
Jacob Johnston went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in the contest. The shortstop kicked off the scoring for MC, picking up an RBI single to right field that scored Thaxton. Zac Graham picked up a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 and Johnston then came around to score on a single from Max Bowers. Christian Carlton scored on a wild pitch to tie it up 4-4.
Maryville scored again in the fourth, but Hanover matched that with a run of their own in the fifth. In the sixth inning, Carlton would plate two runs with a double, and Graham would score on a sacrifice fly from Bowers. The Panthers wouldn't back down though, scoring three in the seventh to tie it up at 8-runs apiece heading into the eighth.
Maryville finally broke the game open with an eight-run eighth inning, kicked off by the grand slam from Thaxton. Hanover clawed back in the ninth, scoring four runs but it wasn't enough as the Scots won Game 2 16-12.
MC used a combined five pitchers to get through the game, Led by 2 2/3 innings of one-run (unearned) ball from reliever Bryce Einstein. As a staff, the Scots combined for 12 punchouts, tying their season-high against Oglethorpe on February 19.
Game 1 was less thrilling than the back half of the twin bill, with MC winning just 4-3.
After going scoreless through the first five, the Scots picked up three runs in the fifth and one more in the seventh to put the Panthers.
Collin Dunworth, Jimmy Meredith, and Graham each picked up two hits in the contest, while Ashton Whiteaker led the squad with two RBIs.
Kyle Timko got the start for MC, pitching five innings while allowing two unearned runs on five hits and striking out a season-high five batters. Xavier Resto came on in relief, picking up his second career win, allowing one run in four innings while striking out four.
The Scots return to play on Friday night for Game 1 of a three-game series against Bob Jones. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.