MARYVILLE, TN – The William Peace Softball Team used a pair of big first innings against Maryville this afternoon to earn themselves two more wins and remain second in the USA South standings. The Pacers held on to down the Scots in game one, 9-7, followed by a 9-8 victory in game two.
Game One: William Peace 9, Maryville 7
WPU jumped out to a quick lead, scoring five runs in the first, thanks to a pair of home runs off the bats of Morgan Farmer and Michaela Fox. Lindsey Wiggins singled to lead off the game and Michelle Sheldon-Gregorio walked before scoring on Farmer's three-run shot. Casey Taylor drew a walk and scored on Fox's homer.
Maryville got two runs back in their first at-bat of the day, but the Pacers added three more in the second, as Wiggins reached on a fielder's choice followed by back-to-back singles from Gregorio and Brandi Stamey to load the bases. Farmer plated Wiggins and Gregorio with a double to left center, and then Stamey scored on Taylor's infield single.
The Pacers added one more in the fifth, as Morgan Bryant doubled and scored, holding on for a 9-7 win.
Lauren Martin (3-1) started in the circle and got the win, giving up five runs on seven hits in four innings pitched. Heather Dindinger picked up her first save of the year, working the final three innings and allowing two runs on five hits. At the plate, Wiggins went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Farmer made the most of her two hits, driving in five and scoring another. Seven other Pacers chipped in with one hit apiece.
Kayla Aloisi (2-6) only lasted an inning plus in a loss, allowing eight runs on six hits. Every Scots starter tallied at least one hit, with four of them collecting multiple hits.
Game Two: William Peace 9, Maryville 8
Just like they did in game one, WPU jumped out to an early lead with a big first inning. Wiggins singled, Stamey singled, and then Farmer brought Wiggins home with a base hit down the left field line. Stamey scored on an error by the third baseman, which also loaded the bases after Heather McLean also reached base with a base hit up the middle. Morgan connected for her second double of the day, scoring Farmer and McLean to make it 4-0.
WPU (12-9-1, 9-3 USAS) made it 5-0 in the second, as Stamey singled, stole second and scored on another RBI hit from Farmer. The Pacers added another in the third, but Maryville scored two in the bottom half of both innings to make it a 6-4 ball game.
The Pacers extended their lead to 9-4 in the fifth. Shay Poteat led the inning off with a double down the left field line and scored two batters later on an RBI single from Casey Taylor. Bryant walked and scored on an RBI single to center from Ragan Taylor, who eventually scored on Stamey's hit to center.
Trailing by five, Maryville (7-15, 4-8 USAS) wasn't done, answering with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. After earning the win in game one, Martin came in during the fifth to end the threat. She pitched the sixth and the seventh without allowing a run to pick up her second save of the season.
Farmer (5-4) got the win, surrendering seven earned runs on nine hits, three walks and three strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Lexie Randolph (4-6) went the distance for the Scots, giving up nine runs on a season high 17 hits for the Pacers.
Offensively for the Pacers, Stamey went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Shay Poteat went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Farmer added another two hits to go along with two RBI and a run scored. Ragan Taylor had a pair of hits, an RBI and a run scored. Wiggins had another two hits and a run scored.
The Pacers will return to action this Sunday, as they host Mary Baldwin for a Sunday doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m., which will also be military appreciation day.
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