STAUNTON, Va. -- It was only a matter of time, but Covenant softball senior Jordan Brett made a record-breaking hit count in a big way. Brett's two-run homer in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie in game two and helped propel Covenant to a doubleheader sweep with 7-5 and 3-0 wins over Mary Baldwin on Friday afternoon.
The homer for Brett broke the program's career hit record as the senior now has 178. Brett had been closing in on the record since the season began and entered the day three hits shy of breaking the mark.
She had two hits in game one before hitting a homer and driving in two in the second game.
Covenant (18-10, 11-5 USA South) moved into a tie for second place in the USA South West Division with the wins. The Lady Scots sit two games back in the loss column of division leader Salem.
GAME ONE: Covenant 7, Mary Baldwin 5
Covenant scored five runs over the last two innings and used a two-out, three-run homer from Casey Grover to fend off Mary Baldwin 7-5 in the opener on Friday.
Grover went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Jordan Brett and Shade Epes also had two hits apiece and a run scored in the win. Brett's two hits pulled her into a tie atop the program's all-time hit list with 177 for her career.
Covenant scored two runs in the third to grab a 2-1 lead. The inning was aided by a pair of Mary Baldwin errors as Epes scored on one of them to tie the game at 1-1. Shannon Schmitt gave Covenant a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly that enabled Madyson Gibbins to score.
After Mary Baldwin tied the game in its half of the third, the score remained at 2-2 until the sixth. Errors plagued Mary Baldwin again as the Squirrels committed three in the inning and Covenant took advantage and scored two runs. Grover had the lone hit in the inning for the Lady Scots, but Covenant held a 4-2 lead entering the seventh.
In the seventh, Schmitt and Brett produced back-to-back hits before Grover launched her third home run of the year to give the Lady Scots a 7-2 lead. Mary Baldwin rallied in the bottom half with three runs, but Covenant was able to hold off the Squirrels rally.
Joni Johnson (1-0) made her first start of the year and went six innings allowing two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Mary Baldwin starter Heather Mayes (2-8) went the distance and surrendered three earned runs on eight hits.
Jordan Miller had three hits and two RBIs for lead Mary Baldwin at the plate.
GAME TWO: Covenant 3, Mary Baldwin 0
Carsyn Stone and Tyler Epes combined to toss a five-hit shutout and Brett's homer in the fifth broke a scoreless game as Covenant completed the sweep with a 3-0 win.
The Covenant offense was stymied through the first four innings by Mary Baldwin starter Courtney Gordon, but the Lady Scots got to her in the fifth. Madalyn Ames singled with one out and two batters later Brett sent one out over the center field fence to give the Lady Scots a 2-0 lead. The homer broke the program's career hits record for Brett and it was her sixth round-tripper of the year.
The Lady Scots added a run in the top of the sixth when Kaitlyn Sirmons put down a perfect bunt that resulted in a single and allowed Shade Epes to score for a 3-0 lead.
That was all Stone and Tyler Epes needed. Stone (6-5) went the first six innings and allowed five hits and struck out one before Epes came on to throw a perfect seventh to complete the sweep.
Shade Epes went 3-for-3 with a run scored, while Ames finished 2-for-4 with a run. Brett was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
Gordon (3-6) got the loss as she went all seven innings in the circle and allowed three earned runs. Chrissy Cromer went 2-for-3 for the Squirrels.
Covenant travels to face Ferrum on Saturday in a USA South doubleheader. Game one is set for 1 p.m.