CHATTANOOGA -- With a chance to play at AT&T Field, home of the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Covenant Scots played game one of the three-game series against the Emory University Eagles on Friday afternoon. The Scots scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to erase a six-run deficit, but the Eagles prevailed in the 11th inning as they scored three times to take a 12-9 win.
Games two and three of the series will take place on Saturday in Atlanta. The first game is set for 12 p.m.
The Eagles came out swinging in the first inning as they scored three runs off Covenant starter Tyler Smith and took a commanding 9-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
But in the bottom of the ninth, Covenant (15-14) pulled a miracle comeback with six runs to tie the game. The inning started with a double by James Rollins followed by a Sterling Witt home run to right-center field to make the score 9-5. Witt's home run was his fifth of the season. With two outs and nobody on, the game looked to be done, but Covenant managed to load the bases with back-to-back singles from Kurt Wiles and Chris Rollins and a walk issued to John Mark Griggs.
K.C. Simons then laced a single past a diving shortstop that plated runners Wiles and Chris Rollins to cut the Covenant deficit to 9-7. One batter later, David Lockwood nailed a game-tying double to right-center field that brought home a pair of runs to tie the game. Emory intentionally walked James Rollins in order to pitch to Witt again. This time, however, Witt could not deliver and the game went into extra innings.
Covenant held Emory scoreless in the 10th inning and had another chance to win the game in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs and nobody on, Wiles singled after a 10-pitch at-bat and then stole second base. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Chaston Hart hit a shallow fly ball to right field, but Emory's Brett Lake tracked it down and made a sliding catch to preserve the tie.
The Eagles squeezed off three runs in the top of the 11th to pull out the win. Kevin O'Connor's sacrifice fly plated runner Jordan Selbach. Jonathan Sholar's two-run double scored Jay Page and Jared Welch to make it 12-9.
Emory relief pitcher Mike Bitanga (5-0) was awarded the win after 2.1 pitched innings and only two earned runs and held off the Scots during the extra innings. Covenant relief pitcher Brooks Hale (0-1) was given the loss.
James Rollins continued his torrid hitting as he went 4-for-6 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Lockwood was 3-for-6 with three RBIs. Chris Rollins ended 2-for-4 with two runs of his own, while Wiles went 2-for-3 with a run. K.C. Simons had a 1-for-5 day with a run and three RBIs.
Lake, Brandon Hannon, Welch, and Josh Bokor each had three hits for the Eagles (20-9). Starting pitcher Connor Dillman received a no-decision despite going six innings and allowing two earned runs on seven hits, while striking out five.
