Kirksville, Mo. – The Maryville baseball team struck first early in the final game of the series to salvage a split with Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Truman State University Sunday afternoon. The Saints fell in the first game of the day, 4-3 and scored all of their runs in the first four innings to win the night cap, 5-0 at the Truman Baseball Park in Kirksville, Mo.
After both teams were held scoreless over the first three innings in the first game of the day, the Saints cracked the scoreboard as
Dalton Schumer reached base on a Bulldog fielding error and scored as
Camdon Mercier drilled a triple down the right field line to put the Saints on top 1-0. Maryville added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh as
Garrett Taylor opened the frame with a walk.
Troy Payton entered the game to run for Taylor and moved to third on a
Cody Klotz single to right field. Klotz then stole second base and
Tyler Catlett drew a walk to load the bases as
Danny Covert laid down a perfect bunt to score Payton and give the Saints a 2-0 lead. Klotz then scored as
Mitch Carriger drew another walk to give Maryville a 3-0 advantage. The Saints were unable to hold on as Truman State scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win.
Brian King suffered his second loss of the year in relief, pitching a third of an inning while giving up a run on two hits and a pair of walks. Mercier and Klotz each had two hits to pace the Saints offense in the first game of the day.
Maryville took advantage of a pair of Bulldog miscues in the second inning of the night cap to grab the lead. Mercier reached base on an infield error and moved up 90 feet as
Connor Markell stroked an infield single to put runners at first and second base.
Zack Ruckman drew a one-out walk to load the bases for Klotz, who reached base on another error as Mercier scored to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. Markell then scored on a fielder's choice and Catlett stole home a batter later to give Maryville a 3-0 advantage. The Saints added two runs in the fourth inning as Mercier opened the frame with a walk and moved up to second on a Ruckman base hit up the middle to runners at first and second. After a ground out moved the runners up 90 feet, Catlett scored the duo on a single to left center to give the Saints a 5-0 advantage.
Louis Niemerg tossed a gem to improve his record to 3-2 on the year, throwing six innings of shut-out baseball while giving up seven hits and striking out two Bulldog batters. The Saints bullpen came on to limit the Bulldogs to two hits over the final three innings to seal the deal. Catlett led the way for Maryville at the plate by going 2-for-5 with three runs batted in while Mercier and Ruckman each scored two runs for Maryville.
Maryville (18-16, 5-7 GLVC) returns to the diamond Friday, April 14, as the Saints head to Liberty, Mo. to take on William Jewell with a doubleheader slated to begin at noon.
