FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist softball team dropped a pair of USA South competition games to Maryville College, 10-3 and 4-3, on Friday afternoon at Price Field.
In game one, Maryville (14-14, 10-4 USAS) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Gabrielle Rathmell sent a two-RBI double down the left field line.
Methodist (4-20, 1-7 USAS) came within one in the home half of the inning when Danielle Brendes tripled down the left-field line to score Allyson Aycock, who walked in the previous at bat.
The Scots tacked on another run in the third and then three more in the fifth to go ahead, 6-1, before the Green and Gold tallied their last two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and runners at second and third, Courtney Thompson sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Sydney Foland, the pinch runner for Christine Bowman, who reached on a fielder's choice. The next batter, Aycock, singled through the left side to plate Alanna Anderson and record MU's final run to bring the score to 6-3 in Maryville's favor.
In the seventh, the Scots exploded for four runs on four hits to register the eventual winning score of 10-3.
Aycock went 1-for-2 in game on with an RBI and run scored and Morgan Faircloth was 2-for-3. Heather Williams finished 2-for-4 and Brendes was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Rathmell was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Alexus Murray was 3-for-3 with two RBI and three scored runs.
Emily Hester (1-6) took the loss, pitching the first 4.2 innings and allowing six runs (4 ER) on nine hits with two strikeouts. Hannah Key finished out the final 2.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits.
Kayla Aloisi (9-7) earned the win, tossing the first 6.0 innings and giving up three runs on six hits. Casey Joliff closed out the final inning and allowed one hit with one strikeout.
After two innings of scoreless play in game two, Methodist went ahead, 1-0, in the third when MC's catcher allowed a passed ball and then lost it, allowing Williams to score from second.
Maryville was quick to react, tying the game, 1-1, and then going ahead, 2-1, in the top of the fourth. Elizabeth Wheeler sent an RBI single to center before a wild pitch scored Rathmell.
The Scots tallied their last two runs of the game in the fifth with a two-run homer by Rachel Taylor.
RBI doubles by Anderson and Kelsey Harrington in the sixth brought the Monarchs within one run, 4-3, but the Scots were able to force MU into three outs with the bases loaded, preventing the home team to tie things up.
Harrington went 2-for-3 with one RBI and Nicole Heinrich and Kristen Bailly were 1-for-3.
Heinrich (2-7) was handed the loss, pitching all 7.0 innings and allowing four runs (3 ER) on 10 hits with two strikeouts.
Rathmell was 2-for-4 with one run scored and Taylor was 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored once.
Morgan Corland (5-4) was awarded the win, tossing the first 5.2 innings with three runs allowed (2 ER) on six hits. Aloisi finished the last 1.1 innings and earned the save after allowing no runs or hits with one strikeout.
Methodist will compete again on Saturday as it hosts Piedmont in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 pm.
--
