An extra innings loss capped a disappointing Great South Athletic Conference opener as Wesleyan College dropped both ends of a double header to league leading Maryville College on Monday night.
In the opener, Maryville (10-12, 3-1 GSAC) took advantage of a crucial Wesleyan error after Chastity Smith and Alana Von Hoy put together back-to-back RBI singles in a three-run second inning. The Scots would extend the lead to seven runs as they cruised to a 7-1 victory in game one. The loss spoiled a 3-for-3 effort from leadoff hitter Belle Thomas for the Pioneers (1-16, 0-2 GSAC).
Katie Beckham’s home run in the eighth inning ended the Pioneers hope of an upset, falling in game two, 3-1. The Pioneers and the Scots traded runs in the first inning. Thomas sparked the Wesleyan offense, taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and sacrifice fly by DaLin Gillis to score. A pitcher’s duel ensued for the remainder of the game with Sarah Reeder limiting Wesleyan to just two more hits and Cheyenne Siebenaler allowing 10 hits over the course of the game before falling victim to Beckham’s blast.
“I’m really proud of our girl’s effort today,” stated Wesleyan Head Coach Shannon Fevella. “I was pleased at how we bounced back from the loss in the first game to take them to extra innings in the second. Maryville is the best we’re going to see and we played with them, so it hurts to lose in extra innings, but it’s also promising because we are showing significant improvement.”
The Pioneers return to the field on Wednesday, April 1 when they travel to Piedmont College to make up a doubleheader that was postponed last week due to inclement weather. First pitch is at 5:00pm.
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