Chattanooga -- Wesley McDowell (2-2, 6.56) gave up only 2 runs on 6 hits in his 5 innings against the Tennessee Temple Crusaders, but the Scots managed only 1 run on their 6 hits in the 2-1 decision at Historic Engel Stadium earlier this evening. After drawing to within a game of last year's win total on April 10th at Montreat, Covenant has gone on to drop 5 straight and will therefore need to win 5 of their last 7 to finish .500.
The game went scoreless through 3 innings until the Crusaders cashed in on a Covenant error by doubling a run home in the bottom of the fourth. The very next inning, designated hitter Tyler Cross singled in a run on his second hit of the game.
Both of Temple's runs came with two out.
The Scots didn't earn multiple base-runners until the top of the eighth, when back to back singles from third baseman James Rollins and pinch hitter Kevin Wilson put runners on first and third with nobody out. But Brandon Hagopian's sacrifice fly on the ensuing at-bat was all Covenant could muster.
Crusader right-hander Taylor Vaughn's complete game included 4 strikeouts and only 1 walk, 1 earned run, and with the exception of the last two innings, no runners past first base. The native of Cleveland, Tennessee threw 114 pitches (76 strikes).
In the top of the ninth, the Scots looked to tie as they got two runners aboard with only one out, but Vaughn's arm refused to give in to the heart of the line-up. He popped Taylor Oldham (.452) and Jared Carlson (.258) up, and then forced James Rollins (.333) into a ground out.
Covenant will play Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, TN this weekend, but with the impending rain due for Saturday, the teams have rescheduled the double-header for Friday and the single game for Saturday, rather than the standard Friday single game, Saturday double-header. Friday play will begin at 2:00pm. Saturday 1:00pm.
