LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant College Scots baseball team dropped both games this weekend against the 26th ranked Emory Eagles. Friday, the game was played at Emory's home field in Atlanta, and Covenant lost 5-4 in the 10th inning. Saturday, Covenant could not get anything going and lost 10-3 at home.
Game one saw Tyler Smith who entered the game with an 8-0 record (which leads the NCCAA) start for the Scots. He battled pitching 6 and 2/3 innings allowing 1 earned run (2 unearned), 5 hits and striking out 3. He gave way in the top of the 7th inning to Demarius Johnson after 2 runners reached base. Johnson struck out Brandon Hannon to end the inning. This was the first game of the season in which Smith did not earn a decision in the game.
Emory struck first in the bottom of the first, scoring 2 unearned runs on 1 hit and 2 errors.
Covenant responded in the 3rd and 5th inning, scoring 3 runs on RBI hits from James Rollins and Luke Furuto. They took the lead 3-2.
Emory fought back and tied the game in the 6th off a walk, then later a 2 out double.
Johnson stayed in after pitching the last out of the 7th and pitched the 8th and 9th innings. He was virtually un-hittable, striking out 6 of the 7 batters he faced. He gave up no runs and continues to dominate out of the bullpen.
In extra innings, Covenant scratched out a run. With 2 outs, James Rollins- who was 3 for 5 on the day- got a single through the left side. He stole second and then scored on an RBI triple down the right field line from Harrison Fisher.
With a 1 run lead in the bottom of the 10th, things went bad for the Scots. A lead-off walk, a bunt single, and an error saw the bases loaded with no outs. The next batter ripped a walk off double in the right field gap for a walk off victory for Emory.
Sterling Witt ended the day with 2 hits, as well as Furuto. Each are batting over .300 on the year.
The loss put Covenant at 17-10 and 3-5 on the road.
Game two was played Saturday at home. Covenant struggled both defensively making 3 errors , and offensively getting just 5 hits in 9 innings.
Witt was the only Scot that managed 2 hits on the day going 2 for 3. He also drew a walk in the loss.
Glover started on the mound and got little help from the defense. He pitched 2 innings, giving up 3 earned and 2 unearned runs. The second inning was what hurt Covenant most as Emory saw 5 runs cross home plate to take the lead 5-0.
Brian Simons pitched 4 innings in relief and gave up 4 runs. He was able to strike out 3 batters before giving way to Shane Ludwick who pitched the final 3 innings. Ludwick held the Eagles to just 1 run.
The Scots were never able to mount much of a comeback. They scored 2 runs in the 5th and threatened for more with bases loaded and 1 out, but came up short.
The 2 game sweep by Emory dropped the Scots to 17-11 on the year.
Covenant hopes to bounce back strong Tuesday as they host Birmingham Southern College, with a start time of 4:00pm.
