Carysn Stone and Tyler Epes combined for a no-hitter in game one and the Covenant softball team scored 33 runs over two games to sweep Rust by scores of 16-1 and 17-5 in Saturday's season-opening doubleheader.
The no-hitter in game one was the sixth in program history and the first since 2013. It also marked the second time that a Covenant team has no-hit Rust.
The wins mark the second straight year that Covenant (2-0) has swept a season-opening doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Covenant 16, Rust 1
Stone and Epes combined for the sixth no-hitter in program history and the offense produced plenty of support in a 16-1 victory in game one on Saturday.
Stone (1-0) started and went three innings surrendering one walk with five strikeouts.
The sophomore right-hander walked the leadoff hitter in the first, who then came around to score, but then retired the final nine hitters she faced. Epes came on in the fourth and walked one with three strikeouts to complete the no-hitter.
Covenant took advantage of nine Rust errors and pounded out 13 hits to score 16 runs. The Lady Scots put a five spot on the board in the first as Casey Grover, Kat Andrews and Kaitlyn Sirmons had run-scoring hits, while Shade Epes drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
In the second, Covenant opened up the game with seven runs to take a 12-1 lead. Grover had another RBI double and Erika Mast and Joni Johnson also had RBI hits in the frame. The Lady Scots scored four more runs in the third with Tyler Epes, Sarah Huskey and Madyson Gibbins driving in runs with hits.
Gibbins and Grover each went 2-for-2 and nearly every other Lady Scot either recorded a hit, RBI or run scored in the rout.
GAME TWO: Covenant 17, Rust 5
Grover drove in four runs and Andrews went 3-for-3 to lead Covenant past Rust 17-5 in Saturday's second game to complete the sweep.
Covenant scored a program-record 13 runs in the third inning to open up a close game. Grover drove in two early in the inning before Andrews had a two-run double. Tyler Epes highlighted the frame with her first career home run, a solo shot to left field, as Covenant took a 16-3 lead.
Jordan Brett accounted for both runs in the first as she launched a two-run home run down the left field line to cut into Rust's lead. In the second, Mast drove in Jami Johnson with an RBI ground out. The Lady Scots capped the scoring in the fourth when Grover singled home Joni Johnson.
Huskey (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Covenant as she tossed four innings and allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to Sewanee on Thursday for a doubleheader. Game one is set for 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST).