The Covenant baseball team had the opportunity to play CCS Regular Season champions, No. 26 Maryville in the Opening Round of the CCS Tournament and nearly pulled off the upset. From the top of the first inning all the way to the bottom of the eighth inning, Covenant led before a five-run rally from the maroon and orange Scots proved to be the difference.
Final: Covenant 6, No. 26 Maryville 8 Covenant got the scoring started in the first inning as Daniel Bell delivered a 2-RBI triple to right-center field.
Later in the frame, an RBI single by Benjamin Johnson and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Hudson Couch suddenly put Covenant up 4-0.
Maryville immediately responded, using a 2-RBI ground-rule double followed by an RBI double to get back within one run.
Covenant took a 5-3 lead in the third inning as Roby McClarnon brought home Cody Brewer with an RBI single to left field.
RHP Scotty Smith began to settle in, keeping Maryville off the scoreboard from the second inning through the seventh inning, allowing just two hits during this time.
Covenant added its sixth and final run in the seventh inning, as McClarnon had another RBI single, this one to third base.
Three singles for Maryville to begin the eighth inning quickly put it back within one run at 6-5.
Later in the frame, an RBI single to right field tied the game before a 2-RBI single from Reece Jordan gave Maryville its first lead of the day.
Nate Jones hit a two-out triple in the ninth inning, but that's all Covenant could muster in the final frame.
Covenant moves to 15-32 all-time against Maryville.
Zeke Gilbert (2-for-5, 1 R) with a hit in the first inning, broke Covenant's all-time career hits record.
He now has 222 for his career.
Smith (7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) earned a no decision on the mound in a dominant performance apart from the first inning.
RHP Zach Barrett (0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB) limited the damage in the eighth inning.
Bell (3-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI) led the Covenant offense with three hits on the day.
Covenant outhit Maryville 13-12.
Covenant had one error while Maryville had none.
Covenant plays Huntingdon tomorrow at 11 a.m. in an elimination game.