Jackson, Tenn. – The Maryville University baseball team opened the 2017 season by falling to Union University, 5-3 in 10 innings and 6-1 in a doubleheader in Jackson, Tenn. Friday afternoon.
 
The Saints opened game one of the three game series scoring first in the fourth inning as Zach Ruckman drove a one out pitch to center field for a triple and scored on a Matt Scheilbel single to give Maryville a 1-0 lead.
 
After the Bulldogs grabbed the lead after scoring three runs in the home half of the inning, the Saints battled back when Garrett Taylor was hit by a pitch and then swiped second base. Taylor scored on a Danny Covert single to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth. Maryville drew even with Union in the sixth as the Saints put together back-to-back doubles with Dalton Schumer drilling a shot to left field and then scoring on a Taylor shot to left center field to tie the affair at 3-3.
 
The Saints had a chance to score in the 10th inning as Taylor forced a walk and Cody Klotz was hit by a pitch, but Maryville could not move a run across. The Bulldogs grabbed the win in the bottom half of the inning on a 3-run walk-off homer to handle the Saints their first loss of the year.
 
Julian Langford came on in relief in the 10^th to suffer the loss while Ruckman was 2-of-3 with a run scored and he also drew a walk on the afternoon.
 
In game two, both teams had a few early opportunities plate runs in the early innings. The Bulldogs cracked the scoring column first with a 3-run blast to stake a 3-0 lead. Maryville cut into the Union lead as Troy Payton singled to left center field with one out and then stole second base. After a Conner Markell walk, Camdon Mericer drove in Payton to cut the Union lead to 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs (6-0) extended the lead in the sixth on another homer, this time a 2-run blast, and then another run crossed the plate to give Union a 6-1 advantage. Maryville was able to get a runner into scoring position in the top of the seventh, but could not push him across as the Saints fell to 0-2 on the year.
 
Arcente Stone took the loss for the Saints pitching 3.2 innings and giving up three runs on four hits while throwing five strikeouts. Payton paced the Maryville offense with a pair of hits and a run scored.
 
The two teams will wrap their short three game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.