LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Covenant College won the double-header Friday against Huntingdon College, edging them in the first game 2-1, while cruising in the second game 11-2. The story of the first game was clutch pitching from the Scots. Covenants ace Tyler Smith started; he pitched 5 2/3 innings, yielding just 2 hits. He kept Huntingdon to 1 run and struck out 5 batters. In seven starts on the year, he is 7-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
Brian Simons came in relief for his team-leading 10th appearance. He pitched 2 innings giving up no runs,1 hit, and struck out 1.
Demarius Johnson got his first pressure save opportunity of the year. He came in to pitch with two outs in the eighth and with the Scots leading by one. With the tying run on first base, Johnson took it to a full count before striking out Ryan Harrison. In the ninth, he walked 2 batters but was able to close it out when he induced a fly ball to end the game. He now has 2 saves, a 2.22 ERA, and 39 strikeouts in 24 innings.
When asked about his switch from being a starter to the bullpen Johnson commented, "Every ball player has the ideal picture of what it means to be great for their team, but when ideal greatness meets reality, then I ask what does it truly mean to be great? In Mark 9:35, Jesus said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.' My new role as a closer is a way to serve the team in order to make us great."
Covenant managed just 2 runs on 5 hits during game one. Both runs came in the first inning. With men on first and second, Jonathan Carter hit a single to left which scored Oldham. Then with runners at first and third, Carter stole second and Fisher scored on the throw to second base. The 2 runs proved all that Covenant's pitching staff would need.
In game two, Covenant rolled to their sixth straight win. The bats came alive, and Covenant pounded out 11 runs on 16 hits. Carter and David Lockwood each connected with three run home-runs. It was Carter's third of the year and Lockwood's first.
"As a team, we have a good approach to the plate right now," the freshman said. "Everyone has been stepping up and getting big hits."
Fisher went 3 for 5 and got his fourth triple of the year which leads the team. Oldham had 3 hits and James Rollins had 2. Rollins leads the team with a .361 batting average.
Andre Glover earned the win, improving to 5-1. He pitched 5 innings, limiting Huntingdon to just 2 runs. Wes McDowell finished the game, pitching 4 shutout innings.
With the two wins, the Scots are now 15-6. Their record in the Great South is 4-4. As a whole, their team ERA is 3.08, while the opponents' is 7.34. The hitters are batting .287, and opposing teams are batting just .246.
Covenant's next game is against The University of the South, a nine inning game Tuesday, March 29 on Lookout Mountain, starting at 3:00pm.
