Covenant College Athletics recently issued the following announcement.
The Covenant baseball team earned a split with conference foe Maryville on Friday afternoon's doubleheader.
The host Scots earned a walk-off 5-4 win in extra innings in game one. But Maryville would record 11 hits in game two, resulting in a 11-6 victory.
Covenant now sits at 6-8 in USA South play and 14-17 overall.
GAME ONE (10 innings): Covenant 5, Maryville 4
Maryville scored four runs over the last three innings of regulation to force extras. But, three hits and a fielder's choice drawn by Joseph Ridenour in the bottom of the tenth brought in the winning run for the Covenant Scots.
It was all Covenant for the first two-thirds of the contest, as starting pitcher Bryce Bollinger only allowed Maryville four hits, helping the host Scots hold a 3-0 lead after six innings of play.
A RBI-double from Josh Harvey and a sacrifice fly from McKaleb Harlemon made it 2-0 in favor of Covenant in the first. The host Scots would then connect on three singles in the fourth, including an RBI-single from Chris Savage which made it 3-0.
After back-to-back hitless innings for Covenant, Maryville scored their first run of the day in the top of the seventh, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Zac Graham (3-1).
Covenant would add a run in their half of the inning, extending the lead back out to three (4-1).
But, the visiting Scots then added two to the board in the top of the eighth, cutting the lead to one. With the bases loaded, Gabe Lopez connected on a single to right field, scoring two and making it 4-3.
Covenant was once again held hitless in the bottom of the eighth, giving Maryville one more chance to tie in the top of the ninth. It was then that lead-off man Nelson Smith would launch one over the left field fence, tying the game at four runs apiece and forcing a tenth inning (4-4).
Conor Austin and the Covenant defense then recorded a quick three-up, three-down top of the tenth, setting the stage for the walk-off.
Zeke Gilbert, Harvey, and Harlemon would hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. After Maryville recorded a force out at home, Ridenour reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Harvey and securing the 5-4 victory.
Harvey was 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Harlemon finished 1-of-3 with an RBI. Savage and Ridenour both tallied a hit and an RBI.
Bollinger recorded two strikeouts, three walks, and one earned run in 6.2 innings pitched. Austin (4-3) picked up the win, with one earned run, zero walks, and two strikeouts in two innings.
Lopez was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Jimmy Meredith and Ian Campbell also had two hits apiece. Damian Lusby (5-2) was handed the loss after recording two strikeouts, two walks, and an earned run in 1.1 innings pitched.
GAME TWO: Maryville 11, Covenant 6
Maryville used two four-run innings in game two to help garner a five-run victory (11-6).
Covenant had another 3-0 lead after three innings thanks to a two-RBI double from Trevor Grapenthin in the second and a solo home run from Harvey in the third.
But Maryville would score four runs off of three hits in the top of the fourth, giving them a one-run lead. Graham homered to left field during the rally, making it 4-3.
The score would remain that way until the top of the seventh, when the visiting Scots would once again tack on four additional runs. Maryville connected on five singles, resulting in an 8-3 lead.
Covenant then cut the deficit to three in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a bases-loaded walk drawn by Ken Burke and a sacrifice fly from Ridenour (8-5). A home run from Gilbert in the bottom of the eighth would further slice into Maryville's lead, making it 8-6 heading into the final inning.
But Maryville would score three more runs off of two hits in the top of the inning, extending their lead to five (11-6).
The Covenant Scots put a runner in scoring position in their half of the inning. But Maryville was able to shut down the threat, sealing their 11-6 victory.
Kenny Mills and Tyler Cox both tallied two hits in game two. Zach Tolleson (1-2) started on the mound for Covenant and earned the loss after recording one strikeout, three walks, and two earned runs in six innings pitched.
Graham, Meredith, and Christian Carlton were all 2-of-4. Nic Mirabella (3-1) picked up the win, striking out two in six innings.
The win improves Maryville to 7-4 in conference play and 22-9 overall.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up