LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant baseball team opened the 2017 season on Friday afternoon, but it was visiting Greensboro that spoiled the day as the Pride took a 15-4 victory over the Scots.

Greensboro (1-0) scored three runs in the first and six more in the third to open up a big lead to take the victory. The loss is the first season opening defeat for the Scots (0-1) since 2012.

The visiting Pride hit two home runs in the first as leadoff hitter Zach Neumeister sent a solo home run over the center field fence and Kristopher Taveras followed later in the inning with a two-run homer over the right field wall to give Greensboro a 3-0 lead. A six-run third opened up the Pride lead to 9-0.

Covenant got on the board in the third as Caleb Bloye drove in Luke Harvey. The Scots then added two runs in the fourth to make it 9-3 as Taylor Bloye had an RBI ground out and Devin Cerrato followed with an infield RBI single. Covenant's final run came in the fifth when Forrest Hunter doubled down the left field line allowing Alex Kerr to score from first.

Matt Reitz (0-1) made the start and picked up the loss for Covenant. Grant Kierpa tossed five innings in relief and Ty Wilmore allowed just one hit over two innings of work. Z Arima went 2-for-2 with a run scored and eight other Scots recorded one hit.

Greensboro starter Josh Evans went 4.2 innings allowing four runs on nine hits. Reliever Adam Murray (1-0) is credited with the win as he surrendered just one hit over .41 innings with five strikeouts. Michael Faul, Mac Graham and Hunter Curtis had three hits apiece for the Pride, with Graham driving in three runs.

UP NEXT

Covenant and Greensboro will conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader. Game one is set for 12 p.m.

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