LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Covenant won its double header against Emory and Henry College, by the scores 13-3 and 12-0 Saturday afternoon.  In the first game, strike outs and big hits helped the Scots win.  The second game, home runs and a combined shutout from the pitching staff helped the Scots improve to 4-0.  The game featured three firsts for the Scots as freshmen David Lockwood,  GC Marchena, and Niko Knechtel all got their first college hits of their career.

In game one, Covenant came out swinging hot sticks.  Kurtis Wiles, a sophomore, led off the game with a single and then scored on a triple off the right field fence by Harrison Fisher.  The bats really came to life in the bottom of the second inning, and the Scots erupted for seven runs.  It was started by a two out 2-RBI triple from Wiles which was followed by a triple from Fisher, his second of the game. Luke Furuto and James Rollins both cashed in with RBI hits, and the inning was capped off when Rollins scored on an error by the Wasps first baseman Nick Windom.

After cruising through two shutout innings, Tyler Smith, the starter for Covenant, encountered his first bad inning of the new season.  The inning started with three straight singles, where one run was scored.  Smith was able to strike the next two out but with two outs, Windom and Nathan Wimmer each got RBI singles, making the score 8-3 after Smith struck out the remaining batter.

The Scots capitalized on two errors in the bottom of the third and were able to get 2 more runs out of it.  The score was 10-3 in the fourth when Demarius Johnson came in to pitch.  Throwing filthy stuff and throwing nearly all strikes, Johnson struck out the side in order to retire the Wasps in the fourth.  His dominance continued the next inning as he struck out the first two batters he faced, making it five straight K's and then got the next batter to ground out to Taylor Oldham at shortstop.

Covenant scored three more runs in the sixth inning when Fisher, Rollins, and Marchena all singled and Jonathan Carter reached on an error.  Johnson ended the game in the seventh by striking out Brandon Lucas.  Smith and Johnson ended the day with seven strikeouts apiece, and the Scots improved to 3-0.

In the second game, the Scots showed no signs of slowing down.  The starter Andre Glover held Emory scoreless in the top of the first, setting the stage for crooked numbers in the bottom half.

It started with three straight walks from Wiles, Fisher, and Oldham. Then with the bases loaded, Furuto cashed in, raking a double to the right field corner to score all three.  Rollins, who is tied for the team lead in RBIs with Furuto kept pace and dumped an RBI single in to left field.  After advancing to third on an error, he scored on a passed ball which capped the big inning for the Scots.

Glover continued to dominate in the second, making quick work of the Wasps, going three up three down.  The bottom half was highlighted by a lead-off home run from Wiles who had four hits in six tries on the day.

In the bottom of the fourth, Wiles led off with a triple to left.  Oldham was then hit by a pitch with one out.  Oldham stole second, and Wiles was able to score on an error by the catcher.  Furuto and Rollins then hit back to back RBI doubles.  Carlson then got an RBI ground out to the third basemen. The inning finally ended when Carter flied out to center.

In the fifth, Shane Ludwick replaced Glover on the hill.  Glover had a sensational day, pitching four shutout innings giving up just 2 hits and walking none.  In his second outing of the year, the junior showed complete control of the strike zone.  

Ludwick retired the first two batters.  He ran into trouble though when he gave up a single, hit a batter and then walked one to load the bases, but he was able to regain command and got the next batter to fly out.

In the bottom of the fifth, Sterling Witt led off a home run, his first of the year.  Lockwood walked, and Fisher got him to third on a single.  Oldham then hit a fly ball that scored Lockwood and made the score 12-0.     

The last two innings were pitched by two freshman.  Ben Shutt and Lockwood.  Shutt's first college hitter he faced he got to pop out.  The next to grounded out.  He then gave up a single and a walk, and with two outs, Antione Atwater grounded a base hit through the right side.  Lockwood came up firing from left field and hosed him out at the plate to end the inning.  Lockwood then went in to pitch the seventh and went three up three down to end the game.  The Scots improved to 4-0.

After the game, Carter commented, "We didn't hustle like we should have during the first game.  Thankfully our bats were hot so we came out with a win.  We really stepped it up the second game though, and put our heads on right, hustling, while keeping the sticks going and beat them like we should have.  Also I think we need to stay humble, and keep working hard. We have a great bunch of guys and we like winning."
    
Wiles also talked about how the team was playing: "I'm really excited to be a part of a team that works so well together.  Our pitchers attack the opposing hitters, our defense picks each other up, and our offense is based around doing what we need to do to score runs.  Everyone just plays their part and is equally important to the success of the team.  What I'm most thankful for is that we as a collective unit are having fun playing the game of baseball."

Glover, when asked about the success of the pitching staff thus far said: "I think we could possibly have one of- if not the strongest- pitching staffs in our conference.  Every night we can put someone on the mound that has the ability to have a strong outing.  If we keep attacking the zone and hitting our spots, we will be tough to beat.  I expect us to pitch our best each game and whether we win or lose we should leave the mound knowing we gave it our all and did what we could for that game."

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A couple of notable stats through the first four games of the year:

• Glover is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA.  He has given up just 3 hits and has 4 strikeouts in 7 innings thus far.  Johnson has 12 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched and has yet to give up a run this year.

• Rollins is batting .500 with 6 RBIs in four games.  Furuto has a .643 OBP and also has 6 RBIs.  Wiles and Fisher each have 2 triples.  Witt, Wiles and Oldham are tied for the team lead with 1 home run.

• The team batting average is .355.  And base runners are 9-9 in stolen base attempts.  The team ERA is 1.61 with 33 K's in just 28 innings pitched.