Lookout Mountain, GA- Exactly one week ago, a grand slam home run helped put the Lady Scots softball team on the right track. Tonight, another one- this one coming from sophomore Beth Harris- helped the team rally late and secure their first significant come-from-behind win this season.
It was game two, when Covenant trailed 5-0 midway through five. In the bottom of the fifth, a pair of singles followed by a walk loaded the bases, and Harris stepped up to pinch hit with only one out.
"I've been swinging at a lot of first strikes lately so I told myself not to this time, and the first pitch was a ball," Harris said. Two pitches later, with the count 2-1, Harris explained, "my mind was clear and I was able to swing like I know how to. I knew it was gone the second I hit it, I could just tell, [the swing] felt good. It's very relieving because I've been hitting the ball like a sissy lately."
Harris' homer slimmed the deficit to one run which the Lady Scots made up for later that inning.
Morgan Booker doubled and Claire Settle (Booker's courtesy runner) scored on a Judson fielding error.
But Judson was able to regain the lead in the top of the sixth and oblige Covenant another chance to rally.
And rally they did.
Kimi Peebles reached on a walk, Jenny Keener bunted her to second, Christine Core walked, Kim Cuticchia singled to score Peebles, and Core showed off her base-running ability by coming around to score from first.
Judson would again tie the game in their succeeding at-bat, but Covenant, racing the setting sun, received a walk-off hit from Kimi Peebles in the bottom of the seventh to lock in their 7th win this year.
Beth Harris was also credited with the 8-7 win, her first of the season. She allowed 6 runs on 7 hits in her 3.2 innings pitched.
"The come-from-behind win shows a team's heart," Harris said. "It proves that we didn't want to roll over and give up but we truly wanted that win. It is such a rush and a great feeling to work so hard and have it actually pay off."
The Lady Scots travel to Wise, VA tomorrow to face the University of Virginia at Wise (10-24, 4-10 AAC) in a double-header beginning at 2:00pm.
