The Covenant baseball team started a three-game set with league-leaders Maryville on Friday night on the road. Covenant gave the home team everything it could handle, but Maryville scored two runs late that proved to be the difference.
Final: Covenant 6, Maryville 7 Covenant took the lead in the first inning as Benjamin Johnson scored Zeke Gilbert with an RBI single to right field.
Maryville responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game.
An infield error by Maryville in the second inning put Covenant back ahead 2-1.
In the third inning, a solo home run to left field by Matt Hall for Maryville tied the game at two.
It was Covenant's turn to hit the long ball in the fourth inning as Luke Carter blasted a solo home run to left field to make it 3-2.
A single followed by an RBI triple for Maryville tied the game at three in the fourth inning.
Maryville took its first lead of the night in the sixth inning with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field.
In the seventh inning, Maryville extended its lead to 5-3 with an RBI double down the left-field line.
Covenant tied the game with two runs in the eighth inning using an RBI single from Sam Cecil and an RBI groundout by Daniel Bell.
Later in the frame, Covenant went ahead 6-5 as Cecil scored from third base on a wild pitch.
Maryville rallied in the eighth inning as an RBI single tied the game before an infield error allowed the home team to take the lead.
Covenant was retired in order in its final plate appearances.
Covenant moves to 15-29 all-time against Maryville. RHP Bryce Bollinger (6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 K) started for Covenant and threw six innings. RHP Jake Schock (1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 HBP) and RHP Jonathan Glover (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R) pitched out of the bullpen.
Covenant had three players with three hits: Gilbert (3-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB), Bell (3-for-5, 1 RBI), and Carter (3-for-5, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR).
Covenant outhit Maryville 15-13.
Covenant committed two errors while Maryville had one.
Covenant and Maryville play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m.