The Covenant baseball team recorded three home runs and 11 RBIs in its 15-4 win over Maryville Wednesday afternoon. The victory makes it four in a row for the Scots and marks the sixth win in a row over Maryville.
Though Maryville is a USA South opponent, the game was played as a non-conference event.
The final three contests scheduled against Maryville this season will be regarded as conference games and will be counted in the USA South standings.
The visiting Scots took a quick 2-0 lead over Covenant in the first inning behind an RBI single from Ian Campbell and a sacrifice fly by Jack Shuttleworth.
Covenant would tie it in their half of the second inning after a Brooks DuBose double and a Maryville error would bring in a run, followed by the tying run off of a wild pitch.
The host Scots would soon take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by McKaleb Harlemon. From there, it was all Covenant, as the bats would get hot starting in the fifth inning.
In their half of the fifth, the Scots hit two of their three homers, resulting in three runs. After Lewis Saunders was walked, Josh Harvey hit a two-run shot out over the left field fence, his second home run in the last four games.
Two batters later, Hunter Christian hit a solo home run (his first of the season) to left field as well, extending the lead to four.
After a scoreless sixth, Covenant entered the top of the seventh inning up 6-2. Maryville would then cut the lead to two after scoring two runs off of three hits, including a homer by Campbell.
The host Scots would quickly answer in their half of the seventh, with two more runs of their own off of three singles by Saunders, Tyler Moore, and Christian. The lead was extended back out to four (8-4).
But it was the bottom of the eight inning that cemented the Covenant win.
The Scots' bats drove in seven runs off of five hits, resulting in the 15-4 victory. The inning started with three straight singles by Harrison Adelgren, Trevor Grapenthin, and Alex Gonzalez. With the bases then loaded, Saunders reached first on a Maryville throwing error, resulting in a run.
After a wild pitch brought in Covenant's 10th run, Harvey was then walked, loading the bases again. The 10-4 lead was quickly extended as the next two runs were scored off a hit-by-pitch and another wild pitch (12-4).
To finish it out, DuBose would hit his third home run of the season, bringing in the final three RBIs.
The Scots recorded seven stolen bases and 12 hits on the contest. DuBose finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Christian went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Campbell finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Maryville. The visiting Scots finished with six hits and four errors.
Aaron Northcutt got the start on the mound for Covenant and pitched 2.1 innings. He was followed by six more pitchers: Ross Skipper (who is recorded with the win, 1-0), Eli Orr, Tristen Green, Bryce Bollinger, Austin Clark, and Conor Austin.
Michael Holmes started in the pitcher position for Maryville and was followed by Braden Caldwell, who is given the loss (0-2).
Covenant improves to 5-3, while Maryville falls to 2-4.
SCHEDULE CHANGE
Covenant's game against Bob Jones on Friday, February 26, has been cancelled.
UP NEXT
Covenant is scheduled to host Bob Jones in a double-header on Saturday, February 27. First pitch is scheduled for 12pm EST.