Even though Maryville and Covenant are conference foes, this doubleheader will not count against either team in the conference standings. The two teams will meet again on April 18 with a twinbill at Maryville.
The Lady Scots got off to a fast start in the first inning of game one. Starter Chelsea Krafft shut down Maryville in the top half of the inning. In the bottom half, Covenant put two runs across to grab a 2-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Christine Core walked then stole second and third base. Beth Harris launched a double deep to center field to score Core easily. Courtney Wagoner brought home Harris with a hard liner to left field to make it 2-0.
Those two runs were all Krafft needed. The right-hander cruised through the middle innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Maryville put runners on second and third with none out, but Covenant third baseman Lauren Johns snagged a Hannah Youngdeer liner and then tagged out Chastity Smith to complete the double play. Two batters later, Krafft got a ground ball out to end the Maryville threat.
Krafft (1-0) was given the win after throwing the complete-game shutout. She allowed five hits while striking out six and walking three. Maryville’s Sarah Reeder (0-3) was charged with the loss.
In the second game, Maryville was reinvigorated and won 10-0. The visitors got their first run of the day in the top of the first on an RBI ground out from Smith. Maryville then added four runs in the second inning and five more in the fourth. Leah Kelly and Kalyn Jones each had two runs batted in for Maryville who took full advantage of five Covenant errors.
The Lady Scots’ best chance to score came in the bottom of the second when they put runners on first and second with one out, but Covenant could not break through against Maryville starter Brittany Henry.
Henry (1-2) recorded the win for Maryville as she went four innings and gave up just two hits while collecting five strikeouts. Cori Hilt (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Covenant.
Covenant plays again on Saturday with a doubleheader at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. Game one will start at 2 p.m. EST.