The Covenant baseball team dropped its final road game of the year in non-conference play losing to Carson-Newman, 9-5, on Wednesday afternoon at Silver Diamond Field in Jefferson City.
The Scots are now sitting at 13-23 for the season while Carson-Newman, members of NCAA Division II, is 24-20. It was the first meeting all-time between the programs.
Carson-Newman took an early lead in the bottom of the first, bringing home a runner after a sacrifice bunt followed by a sacrifice fly.
The host Eagles scored two more runs in the bottom of the second to make the score 3-0.
The Scots were able to cut into the deficit in the top of the first, beginning the inning with a single from Jonah Carignan, his first hit of the season. Covenant was able to load the bases and Caleb Bloye got an RBI after he was hit by a pitch to bring Carignan home. Joel Johnson also picked up an RBI to make the score 3-2. After a pitching change, the Eagles were able to wiggle out of the jam without allowing another Covenant run.
In the bottom of the fifth Carson-Newman added to its lead after scoring four runs with two outs to bring the lead up to 7-2. The Scots answered with a run in the top of the sixth as Lewis Saunders tallied his third RBI of the year with a double that brought in Jay Epperson to make it 7-3.
In the top of the seventh, Covenant loaded the bases and Donny Lewis came through with a two-run double to cut the Carson-Newman lead to 7-5. But the Scots were unable to score again as Carson-Newman again worked out of further damage.
The Eagles scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh for the final tally.
On the mound for the Scots was Zach Kyzer (2-4). Kyzer went 6.2 innings and struck out four batters before being relieved by Ross Skipper, who went 1.1 innings and allowed no runs, striking out one batter. Ten pitchers saw action for Carson-Newman and only Jordan Davis pitched more than one inning, as Davis went for two innings. Of the 10 pitchers, the first reliever, Ryan Victory (3-1), collected the victory.
Luke Harvey, Bloye and Johnson all had two hits apiece for Covenant as the Scots collected 10 hits on the day. Ryan Addington went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for Carson-Newman.
Covenant will conclude the season on Saturday with a doubleheader against Methodist at home. First pitch is set for noon. Senior Day activities will take place during day.