February 21, 2009, Maryville, Tenn. — DePauw opened the 2009 baseball season with a doubleheader split at Maryville (Tenn.) after winning the first game, 2-1, and dropping the nightcap by an 11-8 score.

In the opener, Maryville took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Aaron Johnson led off with a single, moved to second on Junior Valentine's bunt single and scored on Eric Vetetoe's single to right.

Maryville starter Brenton Brown held DePauw hitless over the first 4 2/3 innings before Sam Linette doubled to center. Ben Gardner followed with an infield single and Justin Weiner reached on an error which scored Linette.

The Tigers scored the eventual game winner in the sixth when Jon Newman singled to center scoring pinch-runner Chris Schenk who had earlier stolen second. The Scots put runners on second and third in the seventh, but couldn't push across the tying score.

Five different Tigers totaled one hit apiece, while Johnson led Maryville with three of their nine.

DePauw starter Brad Gerlach improved to 1-0 with five innings of work, while J.B. Blanchard picked up the save with two innings of scoreless relief. DePauw's two pitchers didn't allow a walk in the game. Maryville reliever A.J. Herron was tagged with the loss and dropped to 2-1.

Maryville took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game with two unearned runs before the Tigers cut the lead in half when Newman's second-inning single plated Drew Holy. The Scots extended the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second on Valentine's run-scoring single.

Rob McPike's third-inning double to left center scored Gardner and Weiner and tied the game at 3-3. Maryville took the lead for good with two in the fourth and one in the fifth. DePauw closed the gap to 6-4 in the sixth when Newman drove in Jack Gavin with a grounder to second.

The Scots added five in the sixth with a pair of walks followed by two singles and a double. Zac Hargett's two-out single made it 11-4.

DePauw rallied in the seventh as Weiner led off with a double and Taylor Hoffman drew a walk. McPike's single to left center loaded the bases before Holy drove in Weiner with a single and Gavin scored Hoffman after drawing a walk. Newman drove in McPike and Holy with a double, but the rally ended with a strikeout and fly out.

The Tigers totaled 11 hits with Newman leading with three and McPike and Holy collecting two each. Newman drove in four for the game and five in the twinbill.

Maryville finished with 12 hits led by Hargett's three and two each from Valentine, Ben Peters and Justin Ghorley.

DePauw starter Mike Peterson suffered the loss and dropped to 0-1, while Maryville starter Scott Ward picked up the win and improved to 1-1.

The two teams square off on Sunday in another Noon twinbill.