LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- A wild weekend concluded in dramatic fashion as the Covenant baseball team rallied to tie the game in the ninth and then won, 7-6, on CJ Edmond's walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning to defeat North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.
The win capped a two-game series sweep for Covenant (16-20, 9-13 USA South) as the Scots secured a spot in the USA South Tournament next week.
Before the game, Covenant honored its five seniors (Matt Reitz, John Mitchell, Jonah Carignan, Tyrique Wilmore, and Donny Lewis) for their dedication and contributions to the program during their careers. All five played in the game.
Covenant never led until the final at-bat of the game. The Scots were down 6-4 entering the ninth and facing N.C. Wesleyan closer Noah Shrock. With two outs, Covenant loaded the bases after Carignan drew a walk and Lewis was hit by a pitch. Hunter Christian then delivered a single to center field that plated both Lewis Saunders and Carignan to even the score at 6-6.
In the 10th inning, Andrew Brock led off the frame by lifting a fly ball to shallow right field that dropped in for a double as the N.C. Wesleyan right fielder slipped and fell while trying to make the catch. After a walk to Mitchell, Edmond hit a hard grounder to first base that deflected off the N.C. Wesleyan first baseman and ricocheted down the right field line allowing Brock to score the winning run.
N.C. Wesleyan (22-14, 12-9 USA South) took a 4-0 lead in the third inning with four runs off Reitz. Moses Vigo homered to start the scoring, a solo shot to left field, and Trey Croom culminated the inning with a two-run homer.
The Scots got a run back in the fourth on a Lewis RBI single, then scored once in the fifth when Mitchell scored on a wild pitch, before drawing within 5-4 in the sixth when Brooks DuBose tripled to right-center field that brought home two runs.
Jackson Heuer came on in relief in the eighth and went the final three innings to collect the win. Heuer (5-2) allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts. Reitz went five innings in his start and allowed four earned runs with two strikeouts, while Wilmore threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Mitchell went 2-for-5, Lewis 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Carignan was 1-for-4 with a run. Brock had his first career multi-hit game after going 2-for-3 with two runs, while Edmond was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Croom led N.C. Wesleyan's 10-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Shrock (0-1) got the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in one inning. Starter Drew Tubb went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY
UP NEXT
Covenant will open the USA South Tournament on Thursday, April 25. Covenant's seed, opponent, and game time will be announced later this weekend.
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