The Covenant softball team bounced back from a shutout loss in game one of Saturday's USA South doubleheader with Greensboro to earn a series split with a game two victory. Covenant fell 6-0 in the first game, but responded with a 7-3 victory in game two.
The Lady Scots move to 14-15-1 overall and 4-12 inside the USA South, while Greensboro goes to 18-12 on the year and 7-7 in league action.
GAME TWO: Covenant 7, Greensboro 3
Following a game one loss, Covenant rallied from a 3-1 deficit with a six-run fourth inning and would hold on from there in a 7-3 win and a doubleheader split with Greensboro.
Shannon Schmitt went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, while Jami Johnson was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Kasey Hart was 1-for-4 with a run and two RBIs in the victory. The offense supported starting pitcher Cris Gant (4-5) as the sophomore went the distance allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. The complete-game was her fifth of the year.
Covenant got on the board first in the second inning as the sun played a factor. With two outs and runners at first and second, Shade Epes lifted a pop up towards Greensboro shortstop Sarah Connolly, but Connolly lost the ball in the sun as it dropped a few feet from her. Schmitt, the runner at second, never stopped and scored on the play giving Covenant a 1-0 lead.
Greensboro scored two runs in the third and one more in the fourth to grab a 3-1 lead. But in the bottom of the inning, Covenant sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six times on five hits. Schmitt led off the inning by launching a solo home run, her first of the year, to left-center field. Hart brought in two runs with a two-out single before Jami Johnson and Morgan Lane had RBI singles giving the Lady Scots a 7-3 advantage.
Greensboro looked poised to get back in the game as the Pride loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth. But Gant got a double play after a fly out to center field and a Greensboro runner called out for leaving third base too soon on the play. Gant had less difficulty working through the final two innings to secure the win.
Greensboro starter Maddy Wetherholt (9-7) gets the loss as she allowed seven runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. Kali Puckett led the way at the plate going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
GAME ONE: Greensboro 6, Covenant 0
Greensboro starter Dawn Harris tossed a complete-game shutout as the Pride took game one of the doubleheader 6-0 on Saturday.
Harris (9-5) allowed nine hits, but worked out of a couple jams throughout to keep Covenant off the scoreboard. Greensboro scored single runs in the third and fifth innings before opening the game up with a three-run sixth inning.
Hart went 2-for-4 for Covenant, while Lane and Schmitt each went 2-for-3 in the loss. Madison Quirk, Joni Johnson and Madalyn Ames had a hit apiece. Covenant starter Carsyn Stone (3-2) went six inning allowing five runs on eight hits.
Madison Crisco was 2-for-5 with two RBIs for Greensboro, while Alexis Hall went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.