MARSHALL, Texas — Maryville College showcased their resilience and offensive firepower in a doubleheader against #24-ranked East Texas Baptist on Saturday, securing a 3-1 victory in the first game followed by an emphatic 14-6 win in the second.
In the first game, Maryville turned the tide in the seventh inning, scoring all three runs thanks to East Texas Baptist's critical fielding errors. Despite being outhit 8-5, the Scots capitalized on key opportunities with three walks and two stolen bases. The win nudges Maryville further in the standings, highlighting their tenacity against a formidable opponent.
The seventh-inning surge began with a spark from senior outfielder Colin Dunworth, who singled to shortstop and quickly swiped second base. A crucial misplay by East Texas Baptist's pitcher allowed Dunworth to dash home, tying the game at 1-1. The momentum did not stop there—junior infielder Logan Krause seized the moment, reaching on the error and driving in the go-ahead run. Sophomore catcher Irvin Hernandez then stepped up, delivering a clutch RBI single that slipped past the center fielder, allowing two more unearned runs to score.
Earlier, East Texas Baptist managed to break the scoreless deadlock in the sixth with a series of singles, culminating in an RBI from Carter Nannini. However, Maryville's defense, anchored by sophomore second baseman Masin Hall, held firm, thwarting further advances and keeping the game within reach.
As the game pressed into the eighth inning, Maryville's defense and pitching faced a late-game challenge. East Texas Baptist threatened with runners on the corners, but a timely strikeout extinguished their hopes. Maryville's keen eye for capitalizing on mistakes and executing timely hits was the defining factor in this hard-fought battle.
On the mound, freshman pitcher Titus Torbett showcased his endurance with a complete game, allowing just one earned run over seven innings. Facing 31 batters, Torbett conceded eight hits, walked two, and struck out three. He threw 100 pitches, 63 of which were strikes, maintaining a WHIP of 1.43 and improving his season record to 3-2.
Colin Dunworth was instrumental with two hits, including a double, while also scoring a run. Irvin Hernandez added an RBI with his timely hit, and Masin Hall contributed significantly with a stolen base and two assists, highlighting Maryville's comprehensive team effort.
In the second game, Maryville broke the game wide open with a commanding seven-run fourth inning, leaving the #24 ranked Tigers struggling to catch up. This victory pushed Maryville above their season averages, racking up 15 hits and surpassing their usual 9.48 hits per game, while their pitchers delivered an impressive 10 strikeouts, well above their 6.0 average.
The pivotal fourth inning saw the Scots seize control. Senior Jay Pichardo's double down the left-field line set the stage for a scoring surge. Sophomore Irvin Hernandez reached on a pitcher's error, bringing Pichardo home. Junior Masin Hall added fuel with a single and a stolen base, followed by first-year Brayden Evans' clutch two-RBI double. Sophomore Det Dettwiller and senior Frank Derner each contributed RBI singles, before senior Colin Dunworth capped the inning with a two-run homer, establishing a formidable lead.
Maryville's offensive prowess was evident early on, starting with Hall's leadoff double in the third inning. Consecutive singles by Evans and Dettwiller set the stage for Dunworth's three-run homer, a prelude to his later heroics. Aggressive baserunning, including swipes by Hall and Dunworth, kept the pressure on the Tigers throughout.
Despite a two-run homer from Juan Ortigoza in the sixth, Maryville's defense held firm, maintaining the lead. The Scots added an insurance run in the eighth, ensuring a smooth path to victory.
On the mound, junior Logan Denton handled the first five innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, striking out seven with one walk. His 93-pitch performance contained 58 strikes, yielding a WHIP of 1.80. Sophomore Pete Pappas took over for the final four innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits, while striking out three and walking one. Pappas, throwing 52 pitches with 32 strikes, earned a save with a WHIP of 1.25.
Dunworth was a powerhouse in the second game, driving in six runs with two home runs and swiping two bases. Evans was unstoppable, tallying four hits, including a double, with two RBIs and two runs scored. Dettwiller added three hits, including a triple, with three runs and two RBIs. Hall was a spark, collecting three hits, a double, three runs, and a stolen base.
With a record of 14-10, the Scots look ahead to hosting Sewanee on Tuesday, March 31 at 3 p.m. at Scotland Yard in Maryville.
**Game Notes:**
- The Scots tallied 14 runs in the second game, well above their season average of 5.62 runs.