ROME, Ga. -- Down 6-2 heading into the seventh inning, the Covenant baseball team scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to come away with a 9-7 victory over Berry College on Tuesday evening.
With the win, Covenant snaps a three-game losing skid and evens its record at 4-4 on the season. Berry, meanwhile, drops a game below .500 at 6-7.
Held to just two runs on four hits through the game's first six innings, the Scots' bats found some life in the late going. Back-to-back singles from Scott Gillespie and Chris Rollins not only put runners on first and second, but spelled the end of the day for Berry starter Carter Reese. Vikings reliever Levi Austin then hit Drew Wixon with a pitch to load the bases with none out. After Will Cleland's RBI fielder's choice, pinch-hitter GC Marchena plated Rollins with an infield single to cut the Covenant deficit to 6-4.
Kurt Wiles kept the inning alive with a fielder's choice that scored Cleland. Wiles then stole second and was able to score on a David Lockwood infield single to tie the game at 6-6. Covenant took the lead for good in the eighth inning with the big blow coming off the bat of pinch-hitter Jonathan Carter. Carter laced a two-out, two run double to right-center field that scored both Wixon and Rollins to give the Scots a 9-6 lead.
That lead was enough for Covenant reliever Demarius Johnson. The lefty pitched the final three innings to get his first win of the season. Johnson allowed one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but had no trouble in the ninth to secure the win.
Berry's Austin (0-1) is given the loss after allowing five runs in 1.1 innings of work. Vikings starter Reese was effective in his six innings of work as he gave up three earned runs while striking out four and walking none.
It was a makeshift pitching staff for Covenant as starter Eddie Jamerson, usually a reliever, went two innings before giving way to three other relievers. Alec Mitchell and Brian Simons combined to allow just two earned runs in their four innings of work out of the bullpen.
Rollins went 3-for-4 for Covenant with three runs scored. Seven different Scots had at least one hit on the day. Berry outhit the Scots 12-10, but Covenant left just four men on base while the Vikings stranded nine.
Austin Neely led the Berry offense by going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. First baseman Thomas Johnson went 1-for-4 with three runs batted in.
Covenant will return to action on Friday afternoon with a game at home against Hiwassee College. The single, nine-inning game will start at 2 p.m.
