By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13/16 LaGrange (25-10, 11-3 CCS) rallied late but could not overcome an early deficit as they dropped an 11-8 decision to Maryville (20-13, 4-10 CCS) in an NCAA Division III baseball game on Saturday, April 22.
The Panthers threatened immediately as three one-out singles in the top of the first loaded the bases only to see the Scots escape without any damage as they turned a 4-6-3 double play. They would then take advantage in the bottom of the second as Will Hubell earned a leadoff walk, reached second on a passed ball and then scored on a double to the right centerfield gap by Ashton Whiteaker to make it 1-0.
Senior outfielder Rhett Mixon (Loganville, Ga.) doubled to leadoff the top of the third for LaGrange and senior third baseman Joe Ruth (Chiefland, Fla.) followed with a double of his own to score him and tie it up at 1-1.
It wouldn't stay that way long, however, as Maryville put together a rally consisting of four hits and three runs in the home half of the inning to go ahead 4-1. Leading the way would be run scoring doubles by Jimmy Meredith and Hunter Thaxton with an RBI single by Hubbell squeezed in between.
LaGrange would get one back in the fourth as junior designated hitter Tray Owens (Franklin, Ga.) reached on a fielding error, moved to second on a single by junior second baseman Easton Willis (Valdosta, Ga.) and then came home on a single to left by freshman shortstop Jackson McElvy (Kennesaw, Ga.). A groundout by Mixon then put runners on second and third with two outs but MU would get out of the jam with another grounder and keep it at 4-2.
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth, their offense would make sure it did not stay there as they plated six runs over the next two innings, while giving up just one, to take a commanding 10-3 lead. That outburst would be fueled by a Thaxton RBI single and sacrifice fly by Max Bowers in the fifth and a three-RBI double by Meredith that saw him end up on third after a throwing error. He would then score on a single by Christian Carlton.
The Panthers would be down but not out as they put up a four-spot in the top of the eighth behind an Owens RBI double and RBI singles from Willis and McElvy. The last of those would come when sophomore outfielder Jorge Fragoso (East Point, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice to cut it to 10-7.
A Thaxton RBI single in the home half would then tack on an insurance run before the Panthers mounted a rally in the top of the ninth. A leadoff single by freshman outfielder Curt Bonner (Cartersville, Ga.) and a wild pitch put a runner in scoring position for junior catcher David Smigelski (Canton, Ga.) and he promptly doubled him home to cut it to a three-run margin. A one-out walk would bring the tying run to the plate only to see a pair of fly outs lock up the 11-8 decision for the Scots.
Meredith would lead the way for Maryville, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk, four RBIs and three runs scored while Thaxton was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Carlton added a pair of RBIs as part of a 2-for-5 day and Bowers and Whiteaker each chipped in with an RBI. Kyle Timko went five innings, allowing just one earned run and struck out four to pick up the win and move to 3-3.
McElvy would have a day to lead the Panthers, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a steal and a run while Owens was 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and three runs. Willis added a 2-for-5 day that included a run and RBI and Ruth, Fragoso and Smigelski each had an RBI. Senior pitcher Baley Coleman (Hiram, Ga.) started and went five innings, surrendering five earned runs against four strikeouts to fall to 3-3.
UP NEXT
LaGrange wraps up the three-game set with Maryville with the rubber game tomorrow, Sunday, April 23. First pitch is now slated for 1 p.m., a change from its original time of 2 p.m.
