(MARYVILLE, Tenn.)- Piedmont baseball was unable to recover from a rough fourth inning in a 9-3 series opening loss at Maryville on Thursday evening.
The Scots used a five-run fourth inning to run away and hide from the Lions, who were held off the scoreboard from the fifth inning through the end of the game.
Piedmont jumped out to an early lead as Cole Ellis, moved to the No. 3 spot in the order, singled home leadoff hitter Spencer Muffuletto in the top of the first. The Scots answered with a single run of their own on a home run in the bottom of the first before adding two more on an RBI double in the second.
However, the Lions answered back with two more in the top of the fourth on Isaak Mullanack’s two RBI double down the left field line.
Unfortunately, Maryville took control of the proceedings from that point forward, chasing Piedmont starter Zeke Swartz in the midst of the five-run fourth inning.
While the Scots added an extra run in the fifth to lead 9-3, the pitching took control the rest of the way. Maryville’s Xavier Resto fired four no-hit innings to shut the door on the Lions, striking out five to earn the save.
Piedmont’s Nathan Boyce was effective in relief, tossing 2.0 innings of no-hit relief with no walks and three punchouts.
Both Ellis and Trace Cate recorded two-hit performances.
Up next, the Lions and Scots will continue the three-game set with game two tomorrow at 4 p..m.
