Covenant had its Senior Day, but knew it needed to take care of business as it needed one win in the doubleheader against Asbury to secure its spot in the CCS Tournament. The Scots did just that behind a strong pitching performance by Bryce Bollinger in game one, then with nothing to lose in game two, they rallied back from nine-runs down to earn the weekend sweep.
Game 1 Final: Covenant 5, Asbury 1 Zeke Gilbert got his Senior Day started off with a bang, hitting a solo home run to left field to put the Scots ahead.
Covenant scored another run in the second inning as Roby McClarnon delivered an RBI fielder's choice that brought home Elliott Eastin.
The next batter was Sam Cecil and he hit an RBI single through the right side to make it 3-0.
Asbury hit a two-out triple in the third inning, however a groundout recorded by Bollinger kept the Eagles scoreless.
The score remained 3-0 until the sixth inning when Benjamin Johnson scored from third base on a wild pitch.
Later in the frame, an RBI sacrifice fly to left field from Hudson Couch that scored Josh McCaskill put Covenant up 5-0.
Bollinger kept putting up zeros, allowing just one hit across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.
Kaden Dugle hit a solo home run to left field in the ninth inning for Asbury, but that was all it could do in the final frame.
Covenant moves to 1-1 all-time against Asbury.
Bollinger (9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 K) threw his third complete game of the season and second of conference play to earn the win.
Johnson (2-for-4, 1 R) led the Covenant offense with two hits.
Covenant outhit Asbury 8-6.
Asbury had two errors while Covenant had none.
The win clinched Covenant a spot in the CCS Tournament as the No. 6 seed.
Game 2 Final: Covenant 17, Asbury 14
Records: Covenant (19-20, 5-13 CCS), Asbury (7-28, 1-17 CCS)
An RBI single up the middle in the second inning put the Eagles in front.
Covenant scored five runs in the third inning to take the lead, thanks to a two-run home from McClarnon and a three-run home run from McCaskill.
An infield error with two outs extended the inning for Asbury in the fourth, where it proceeded to score five runs and jump ahead 6-5.
Asbury added a run in the fifth inning via an RBI groundout to second base.
Asbury took advantage of three Covenant errors in the sixth inning, using four hits and three walks to score seven runs to take a 14-5 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, a 2-RBI double from Cecil followed by RBI doubles by Gilbert and Daniel Bell quickly cut the lead to five runs.
Later on, McCaskill hit an RBI sacrifice fly and Zach Ferlita delivered an RBI single through the left side, making the score 14-11.
To cap off the rally in the sixth inning, McClarnon and Cecil each drew bases-loaded walks to score two more runs.
After a scoreless seventh inning, Joseph Tolbert, on his Senior Day, hit his first career home run, a solo shot to left field, tying the game at 14 in the eighth.
Covenant took the lead two batters later as Gilbert brought home McClarnon with an RBI single to right field.
The Scots added two more insurance runs to make it 17-14 as Johnson hit a 2-RBI single to center field.
RHP Zach Barrett closed the game, getting three outs via a 4-6-3 double play and a fly out.
GAME NOTES:
Covenant moves to 3-1 all-time against Asbury.
RHP Ethan Goebert (4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP) started the game and allowed just one earned run. He was one of six pitchers Covenant used.
RHP Bruce Giuntoli (1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) pitched the fifth inning on his Senior Day.
RHP Jake Schock (2 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K) earned the win pitching the seventh and eighth innings for Covenant while Barrett (1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB) picked up the save.
McClarnon (4-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB) led the Scots with a four hit afternoon.
Gilbert (3-for-6, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Johnson (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB) each had three hits.
Gilbert's hit in the eighth inning was the 220th of his career, which tied the school record for most career hits.
Covenant outhit Asbury 16-12.
The Scots committed four errors while the Eagles had two.
This is Covenant's first three-game sweep over a conference opponent since the 2023 season when it swept Berea, April 28-29th.
Covenant ends the regular season winners of seven of its last eight games.
UP NEXT: Covenant will play the CCS Regular Season Champions, Maryville, in the opening round of the CCS Tournament on Wednesday at Maryville.
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