MARYVILLE – BIG HIT WHIT!
 
It felt like 2024 at Scotland Yard on Sunday as Ashton Whiteaker belted a line drive over the left-center field wall to secure the win and a sweep for the Scots against Oberlin. Whiteaker has not missed a beat since helping Maryville win the conference title just eight months ago. The Scots' catcher is batting fourth on the team with a .353 average and a 1.206 OPS, six games into his senior campaign.
 
"Having Whit's (Ashton Whiteaker's) presence in the dugout is big," Scots head baseball coach Clint Helton said. "He's not much of a talker, but the way he carries himself speaks volumes. He loves competing and being challenged."

Scots Strike First
Maryville jumped on the Yeomen's starter, Samuel Labrecque, early to plate four Scots in the bottom of the first. Zach Devries started the Scots' run with a leadoff walk, followed by Det Detwiller. Jacob Johnston flew out before Labrecque issued another walk to Ashton Whiteaker, loading the bases and setting up Frank Derner for an RBI single. The inning concluded with an RBI single by Cody Meier, a walk to Matt Hall, and a single by Reese Jordan to flip the lineup back to Devries, who grounded out.
 
Not to be outdone, Oberlin responded over the next two innings, plating two in the third and three in the fourth.
 
Austin Suttle started the game for Maryville, allowing five runs in two and a third innings, bringing his ERA to 8.44 on the season. Suttle last pitched in relief against Fontbonne, tossing three scoreless innings.
 
Ninth-Inning Heroics
The ninth inning belonged to Maryville as Mitchell Grannan picked up his second win of the season. Grannan entered the inning with the Scots trailing 5-4. He struck out the first batter, Zach Masnikoff, walked the next batter, and then delivered two straight strikeouts to set up Maryville's walk-off victory. This is Grannan's first season in the closer role after previously serving as a starter in his junior and senior seasons.

"Our bullpen did a good job of holding them since the third inning," Helton said. "It's great to have a guy like Mitch (Mitchell Grannan) at the back end. There are a lot of guys you can go to, but having number three out there gives your team confidence."

Following Grannan's strong half-inning, Maryville's Detwiller and Johnston drew two straight walks to set up Whiteaker for the walk-off home run.
 
Maryville improved to 6-0 on the season and will host Hanover and Oglethorpe next weekend in the Scots Invitational. Game times are set for 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and noon and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.