BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Covenant Scots played games two and three against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers to wrap-up a three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon. The Scots fell to the Panthers 11-0 in game one of the doubleheader and 6-4 in game two.
With the losses, Covenant drops to 3-4 for the season. Birmingham-Southern, ranked No. 23 in Division III, improves to 5-3 overall.
Game One - Box Score
In an 11-0 win, Birmingham-Southern scored the first run of the game in the first inning, and the Panthers continued to score runs in every inning except the third. In the first inning, Austin Justice walked and stole second before being driven home by Bruce Maxwell's double to left field.
Birmingham-Southern put the game away with a four-run fifth inning. Justice's two-run triple and Jon Walker's two-run home run were the difference makers in the inning that put the Panthers up 10-0. Braxton Marino capped the scoring for the home team in the sixth inning with an RBI ground out that scored Zach Wagner to make it 11-0.
Covenant managed just one hit, a Sterling Witt single, for the game. Birmingham-Southern pitchers faced 23 batters, just two over the minimum in the seven inning game.
Scots starting pitcher Micah Mabe (1-1) was given the loss after going 1.1 innings and giving up two earned runs while striking out two. Blake Stevens (1-1) of the Panthers was credited with the win as he struck out seven batters in six innings of work.
Game Two - Box Score
Covenant struck early in game two with three runs in the first inning, but the Panthers scored three runs of their own in the seventh to come away with a 6-4 victory.
In the top of the first inning, back-to-back singles from David Lockwood and James Rollins with one out put runners at first and third. Panthers starting pitcher Paul Caudill then balked home Lockwood for the game's first run. After a Scott Gillespie walk, James Rollins worked his way around and scored on a Caudill wild pitch to make it 2-0 Scots. Gillespie put pressure on the Panthers' defense by stealing third and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher that made it 3-0.
The Scots added a run in the fourth inning. Will Cleland started the inning by being hit with a pitch and advanced to third on a Drew Wixon single. Jonathan Carter grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Cleland to score from third.
Covenant starting pitcher Andre Glover held the Panther's bats in check until the fifth inning. In that inning, Birmingham-Southern's Trey Chambers brought home a pair of runners with a one-out double to left-center field to slice the Covenant lead to 4-2. The Panthers added another run in the sixth inning when Maxwell doubled home Walker to make it 4-3.
Birmingham-Southern then took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning. Maxwell's two-out, two-run homer broke a 4-4 tie and that was all the Panthers' bullpen needed to close out the series sweep.
Jesse Meier (1-1) was given the win for the Panthers while Blake Yance picks up the save. Meier struck out seven batters over five innings in relief after Caudill was chased after just two innings. Demarius Johnson (0-1) was credited with the loss. The lefty went three innings and struck out three batters while throwing 31 strikes in 49 total pitches.
Glover had a strong outing on the mound for the Scots. Although he picked up a no-decision, Glover went five innings and struck out six, while walking two and allowing five hits.
For the day, James Rollins ended up 2-for-6 in both games combined. Cleland, Lockwood, James Rollins, and Gillespie each scored a single run for Covenant.
The Scots will travel to Rome, Ga., on Tuesday, Feb. 28 to play Berry College in a single game starting at 5 p.m.
