Harrogate, Tenn. – The Maryville University softball team dropped a pair of games to open the 2021 season at Dorothy Neely Field in Harrogate, Tenn., Saturday afternoon. The Saints fell the opening game of the season to Mars Hill 10-8 and then fell short in a 7-6 decision to No. 22 Lincoln Memorial in the nightcap.
 
Game One vs. Mars Hill University:
After the Lions scored a run in the top of the first to grab an early 1-0 lead, the Saints answered in the home half of the frame. Kiersten Nixon gave Maryville the lead with a two-run single though the left side to put the Saints ahead 2-1. 
 
Mars Hill regained the lead as they erupted for seven runs in the top of the second to take an 8-2 advantage. Maryville cut into the lead in the bottom of the second as Kim Debold ripped an RBI triple down the left field line and McKenna McCoy drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt to make the score 8-4. The Saints continued to battle back in the fourth as Alyssa Callans drilled a three-run homer over the center field wall to cut the Lions advantage to 8-7. 
 
After Mars Hill pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 10-7, McCoy hit an RBI double to cut the deficit to 10-8. The Saints had the tying run at the plate twice in the bottom of the seventh but could not score as they fell in the season opener.
 
Winning Pitcher: M. Adame (1-0)
Save: None
Losing Pitcher: Kelsie Hardester (0-1)
Hitting leaders: DeBold – 2-for-3, RBI, 3B (2), two runs scored
                          Callans – 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI
 
Game Two vs. No. 22 Lincoln Memorial:
After the Saints were put down in order in the top of the first, the Lady Railsplitters pushed across a run in the bottom of the frame to take an early 1-0 lead. Lincoln Memorial added three runs in the second to extend the advantage to 4-0. 
 
The Saints grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth by scoring five runs on six hits. Lexi Touchette got the rally started with an RBI double while Erin Sammelmann added a two-run double to cut the lead to 4-3. After an RBI single by Hannah Tolley, Debold ripped an RBI single through the right side to give Maryville a 5-4 lead.
 
The Lady Railsplitters regained the lead in the home half of the fifth frame with a three-run homer to grab a 7-5 advantage. Maryville cut into the lead in the sixth as Brooklyn Moore scored on a fielding error to make the score 7-6. The Saints had a runner at second base in the seventh before Lincoln Memorial struck out the final two batters to claim the victory.
 
Winning Pitcher:  Tamaro (1-0)
Save: None
Losing Pitcher:  Callans (0-1)
Hitting leaders: Sammelmann – 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, run scored
                           Tolley – 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
 
Records:
Maryville – 0-2
Mars Hill – 1-0
No. 22 Lincoln Memorial – 1-0
 
Up Next: Maryville concludes its trip to Tennessee Sunday as the Saints take on Mars Hill at 11 a.m. and Lincoln Memorial at 1 p.m.