LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant baseball team stayed hot on Friday, even if the weather was a little cool for early April. Five different Scots drove in at least two runs as Covenant scored 13 runs on 14 hits in a 13-8 victory over Piedmont in USA South action.

With the win, Covenant (20-14, 9-7 USA South) claimed the series victory over the visiting Lions and also made a move up the USA South standings. Covenant has clinched a spot in next week's USA South Tournament, but its seeding is yet to be determined.

Perry Rigby went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Donny Lewis, Caleb Bloye, Alex Kerr and Taylor Bloye all had two RBIs apiece. Luke Harvey, Z Arima, Julien Amorelli and Taylor Bloye recorded two hits each in the victory.

Covenant produced two runs in the first off Piedmont starter Ben McCurley. Caleb Bloye drove in Harvey with an RBI single before Kerr reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Trenton Nobles to score for a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Rigby came through with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line that scored Amorelli and Kerr to make it 4-0. Piedmont got two of those runs back in the top of the fourth as Evan Gresham hit a two-run home run to left-center field making it 4-2. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Covenant exploded for nine runs on eight hits to take a commanding 13-2 lead. Amorelli and Rigby had run-scoring hits in the frame, but the inning was punctuated by a Taylor Bloye two-run single and Lewis' pinch-hit, two-RBI single to center field.

Piedmont would cut the lead to 13-6 with four runs in the sixth and the Lions added two more in the eighth, but Covenant held on for the win.

Covenant starter Garrett Kriston was effective through seven innings of work. Kriston (8-2) picks up the victory and pulls into a tie for the program's career wins leader with 22. The senior struck out six and allowed six runs in his outing. 

McCurley (2-3) gets the loss after lasting just three innings and allowing five runs, two earned, on three hits. Gresham was 1-for-3 with three RBIs, while Will Skidmore and Josh Tate had two hits apiece for Piedmont.

UP NEXT

Covenant and Piedmont play the series finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. on Lookout Mountain. Senior Day activities will take place before the contest. Live stats and live video will be available at athletics.covenant.edu/live

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