BOLIVAR, Mo. – Maryville University baseball hit seven home runs and defeated Southwest Baptist University in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday. Ben Gregory and Ben Prywitch picked up the wins on the mound as the Saints improved to 24-8 overall and 17-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
 
Game One Recap
Maryville starting pitcher Ben Gregory kept the Bearcat bats quiet through the first two innings but gave up a solo home run in the third. Elias Stevens got that run back in the fourth with a solo home run followed a few batters later by a throwing error that allowed two runs to score. Later in the fourth, Dominic Sharp drove in two more with a single to make it 5-1. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, SBU got a pair of runs on two hits before Gregory picked up a strikeout to strand a pair of runners in scoring position. 
 
Still clinging to a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh, Stevens and Jacob Hager went back-to-back with home runs to further pad the lead. Gregory was sent back out in the bottom half and got a pair of strikeouts on his way to finishing up a complete game win. 
 
Gregory's final line was five hits, three earned, three walks, and seven strikeouts over seven innings of work. He improved his record to 4-3 in 2024 and picked up the second complete game of his career.
 
Winning Pitcher: Ben Gregory (4-3)
Losing Pitcher: R. Garcia (0-3)
  
Batting Leaders
Elias Stevens: 3-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, SB
Camden Ruby: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R
Jacob Hager: 1-for-3, HR, 2 R, BB
 
Game Two Recap
The top of the Maryville order loaded the bases in the top of the first inning and two outs for Camden Ruby. Ruby got a pitch to his liking and drilled it over the right-center fence for a grand slam and a 4-0 Saints lead. 
 
SBU got one back off of game two starter Ben Prywitch in the bottom of the first before Josh Herget led off the top of the second with a solo home run. Later in the inning, Sharp joined the home run parade with a solo home run of his own three plate appearances later. 
 
Zeke Skinner hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to cut the Maryville lead to three, but the Saints kept piling on. Michael Long walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came in to score on an RBI single from shortstop Jack Zebig in the fourth. 
 
The offense continued churning out runs in the sixth, scoring three on four hits. In the top of the seventh, Aaris Stotle was called upon to pinch hit for the first at-bat of his career and he drilled a two-run home run to extend the lead to 12-3. 
 
Griffin King finished off the game in the bottom of the seventh by retiring the side in order, capping a two-inning scoreless outing from the bullpen. Prywitch picked up the win with five innings of work, three earned runs, and four strikeouts.
 
Winning Pitcher: Ben Prywitch (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: J. Thacker (2-1)
  
Batting Leaders
Camden Ruby: 2-for-4, Grand Slam, 4 RBI, 2 R
Dominic Sharp: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Aaris Stolte: 1-for-1, HR, 2 RBI
 
Records:
Maryville: 24-8, 17-2 GLVC
Southwest Baptist: 9-24, 6-13 GLVC
 
What's Next?
Maryville will look for the sweep on Sunday, April 7, beginning at noon.
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