BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Maryville University moved one win away from the first NCAA Super Regional appearance in program history with a 9-2 victory over Trevecca Nazarene University on Saturday afternoon. The Saints erased an early 2-0 deficit in the first inning at Bart Kaufman Field on the campus of Indiana University and posted six runs in the sixth to propel them to the Midwest Regional No. 2 finals and the program's first 40-win campaign. 
 
Trevecca Nazarene Recap
Trevecca took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on RBI singles from Cole McCallum and Abbott Lawrence Jr. Maryville got one back in the top of the third inning on an RBI double from Jack Zebig. Andy Bunton tried to score a second run on the play but was thrown out at home plate. 
 
In the fifth inning, the Saints tied the game at two when Zebig walked with a pair of outs and Michael Gould drove him home with an RBI double down the left-field line. 
 
Ben Gregory, the starting pitcher for Maryville, worked around a leadoff single in the fifth to keep the game tied to end his day. His final line was five innings, 122 pitches, two earned runs, six hits, and a strikeout. 
 
Maryville put the sophomore in line for a victory in the top of the sixth when they exploded for six runs. Matt Arnold singled home a pair of runners with the bases loaded, Zebig plated a third with a single to center, and then three consecutive walks brought in another run. Colin Bergmann drove in the sixth run with a single to left field to give the Saints an 8-2 advantage. 
 
Drake Downing took over pitching duties in the sixth and proceeded to toss three consecutive scoreless innings. Jacob Hager pushed the lead to 9-2 with another bases-loaded walk before
 
Downing was sent back out for the ninth in an attempt to finish the four-inning save. The Waterloo, Ill., native surrendered a solo home run but got the next two batters to wrap up a 9-3 final score. 
 
Batting Leaders
Jack Zebig: 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
Camden Ruby: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 R, SB
Matt Arnold: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, R
 
Winning Pitcher: Ben Gregory (7-5)
Losing Pitcher: S. Wilkins (6-4)
Save: Drake Downing (1)

Records:
Maryville: 40-16
Trevecca Nazarene: 33-22
 
What's Next?
Maryville heads back to Greyhound Park in Indianapolis to play the winner of Trevecca Nazarene and the University of Indianapolis on Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m. (CT). The Saints need one win to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals against the first-seeded Saginaw Valley State University while their opponent will have to take two wins to eliminate the Saints. For more information on the NCAA Midwest Regional #2, click here.  Read Full Article