LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN-- Despite getting home runs from Jordan Brett and Shannon Schmitt, the Covenant softball team was unable to snap its losing streak as the Lady Scots lost a pair of games to Piedmont on Tuesday. Piedmont won game one 10-3 before taking game two 8-2.
Joni Johnson had three hits, a run scored, and an RBI on the afternoon, and Brett drove in two runs to lead Covenant. The Lady Scots were held to 12 hits and three earned runs between the two games as Piedmont pitcher Sarah Walker threw consecutive complete-games.
Game 1: Piedmont 10, Covenant 3
A slow start in the first two innings by the Covenant defense dug a deep hole for the Lady Scots which they weren't able to climb out of in a 10-3 loss in game one.
Piedmont scored in the top of the first. After back-to-back doubles to lead off the game against Tyler Epes, the Lady Lions scored an unearned run to make it 2-0.
Piedmont added four more in the top of the second after Covenant stranded two base-runners in the bottom of the first. Three errors by the Lady Scots led to four runs, three of which were unearned.
After the last eight hitters were retired in order, Covenant got on the board in the bottom of the third. Morgan Lane led off with a double one batter before Brett hit the left field foul pole for a two-run home run, her second of the season, that cut the Lady Scots' deficit to 6-2.
Piedmont scored another unearned run in the fifth, then added three more in the seventh to make it 10-2.
Joni Johnson drove in Kaitlyn Sirmons in the bottom of the seventh inning to provide the final tally.
Epes (3-5) pitched 6.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on 12 hits. She walked two and struck out two. Johnson, Lane, and Brett combined for all six of Covenant's hits.
Walker (10-6) pitched a complete-game, giving up six hits and two earned runs. She struck out five and walked one.
Game 2: Piedmont 8, Covenant 2
Covenant hung around with Piedmont before the visiting Lady Lions pulled away for an 8-2 win and a doubleheader sweep.
A double by Kasey Hart drew the Lady Scots to within one at 2-1 with nobody out in the bottom of the first. Though with a runner at second and the middle of the order coming up, Covenant was unable to score and stranded Hart at second.
Piedmont scored again in the top of the second to make it 3-1, but Covenant got it right back in the bottom of the inning on the strength of Schmitt's first career home run, a solo shot with two outs, to cut Piedmont's lead to 3-2.
Walker (11-6), who also started game two of the doubleheader, then retired 13 of the next 14 hitters, while Piedmont added a single run in the third and two each in the sixth and seventh innings to stretch the lead to 8-2.
Joni Johnson (3-4) pitched a complete-game and gets the loss after giving up eight runs. She walked three and struck out four in her first collegiate complete-game effort.
Schmitt had two hits, including her home run. She and Hart drove in Covenant's runs.
After playing 14 of its last 18 games at home, Covenant will take to the road for the remainder of the season. They will travel to play a doubleheader against Greensboro on Thursday starting at 2 p.m.
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.
