LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- On a chilly, overcast Friday afternoon, the Covenant Scots baseball team opened up the 2012 season against Oglethorpe University. The Petrels scored three runs each in the sixth and seventh innings as they went on to defeat Covenant 8-5.
The game was the first of a two-game series between the two squads. Oglethorpe and Covenant will meet on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Atlanta.
Things started off well for the home Scots. David Lockwood got a two-out rally started in the bottom of the first inning when he walked and then stole second base. Two batters later, Sterling Witt drove home Lockwood with a base hit to right field.
Covenant starter Tyler Smith cruised through the first four innings of play. Smith retired 13 batters in a row and did not allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning when Oglethorpe's Casey Tuttle hit a line drive that just cleared the fence in right field for a home run. Tuttle's blast not only tied the game at 1-1, but also marked the end of the day for Smith.
Smith ended the day pitching 4.2 innings with one hit and one run allowed, while striking out six and walking one on 66 pitches.
Oglethorpe would take the lead in the sixth inning on two, two-out hits that plated three runs to make it 4-1. The Petrels opened up the game in the seventh inning when they scored three more runs that made it 7-1.
The Scots cut into their deficit in the bottom half of the seventh when Witt again came through, this time with a two-run single that scored Chris Rollins and Lockwood. After allowing another Petrels run in the top of the eighth inning, Covenant added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Lockwood brought home K.C. Simons on a sacrifice fly and another Witt run-scoring single plated Chris Rollins to make it 8-5.
The Petrels' bullpen held down the Scots in the final inning to secure the win. Oglethorpe's David Langhan (1-0) gets the win for the visitors after pitching three innings in relief of starter Emmett Goodman.
Reliever Brian Simons (0-1) is saddled with the loss for the Scots. Eddie Jamerson and Jacob Hutcherson combined to pitch 2.2 innings of one-hit ball.
James Rollins led the offensive attack for Covenant with his 4-for-4 day. Witt finished 3-for-5 and four runs batted in. Lockwood added an RBI of his own while scoring two runs. The Scots outhit Oglethorpe 10-9, but left 14 men on base.
Oglethorpe was led by Tuttle who drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 from the plate. Leff also went 2-for-4 with two runs driven in. Additionally, Leff pitched the final two innings for the Petrels.
Covenant and Oglethorpe will play game two tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Scots will return home on Feb. 17 and 18 with a three-game series against Emory and Henry College.
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