LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Andrew Beck's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning scored Alex Kerr from second base to give the Covenant baseball team a 2-1 extra-inning victory over Methodist on Friday.
Covenant remains perfect on the season with a 4-0 overall record and a 1-0 mark in USA South play. Methodist drops to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Kerr singled to left field with one out in the bottom half of the 11th inning and two batters later Luke Harvey singled to left with two outs. Beck, who did not start the game but came on as a pinch-runner in the third inning and stayed in as the DH, took a 2-0 pitch from Methodist's Rett Lee and laced it into left field. Kerr was waved home on the play and beat the throw from left field giving the Scots the win.
Garrett Kriston started for Covenant and picks up a no decision after going 7.1 innings allowing one run on six hits with six strikeouts. Kriston threw 104 pitches, 70 for strikes, in his outing. Alec Mitchell (1-0) relieved Kriston in the eighth and gets the win after going the final 3.2 innings. Mitchell gave up one hit and struck out four, including the side in the ninth inning.
Methodist got on the board first in the second inning. After two were out, Stephen Nalls was hit by a Kriston pitch and Cody Molosky followed with a single to right-center field. Davis Cass came up with a two-out RBI single to center field giving the visiting Monarchs a 1-0 lead.
That would hold until the bottom of the third. Back-to-back singles from Ryan Reilly and KC Simons started the frame and Scott Gillespie would drive in the pinch-runner Beck with a fielder's choice.
Both teams had chances along the way, but strong pitching and defense kept the game tied at 1-1. In the 11th, Methodist got a pinch-hit double from Colin Ford but he was later stranded at third after Cass grounded out to end the inning setting the stage for the Scots in the bottom half of the frame.
Rett Lee (0-2) gets the loss after going 2.2 innings in relief and allowing one run on five hits. Ross Leggett made the start for the Monarchs and was effective going five innings surrendering one run on three hits with two strikeouts. Aaron O'Neil and Nick Norton combined for three scoreless innings in relief.
Gillespie and Harvey each had two hits to lead the Scots' 10-hit attack. Gillespie and Beck each recorded an RBI.
Lucas Scott had two of Methodist's seven hits.
Games two and three of the series will take place on Saturday. Game one is set for 11 a.m., followed by game two approximately 30 minutes after.
Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.
