Maryville Falls 6-2 to Montclair State

HIGH POINT, N.C. – This time it was the other team's turn to rally.

Montclair State scored a combined six runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to hand No. 24-ranked Maryville its first loss of the season 6-2 Friday night in North Carolina. The Scots were playing their first game since rallying from nine runs down to defeat Berry 15-9 Monday afternoon.

The Scots jumped in front of Montclair 1-0 in the fourth when Jimmy Meredith singled home Christian Carlton, who had walked and advanced on a ground out.

After the Red Hawks took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, Maryville answered when Zac Graham led off the Scots half of the frame with a solo homer. The blast was Graham's seventh of the year and his 29th RBI, which leads the nation. His seven home runs are tied for third nationally.

But Montclair put another run on the board in the seventh against Scots reliever Xavier Resto and then three more in the eighth to salt this one away.

Max Bowers was the only multihit player for Maryville. The center fielder finished 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. Both teams had seven hits.

Montclair State's Alec Benzinger came on and pitched the final five innings to gather the victory, allowing one run on five hits and striking out five. He's now 1-0. For Maryville, Leonhardt took a no-decision after allowing just two hits over six innings. Resto is now 2-1.

The Red Hawks improved to 4-1, with Maryville falling to 12-1.

Friday was Maryville's first game in the Triad Invitational, hosted by Greensboro and being played at beautiful Truist Point. The Scots on Saturday take on Adrian, which beat Greensboro 13-5 in Friday's first game to improve to 4-4.

First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Sunday's game time against Greensboro has been moved to 11 a.m. Note that Sunday is the start of Daylight Saving Time.