LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Alex Gonzalez played the role of hero for a second straight day as his walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the Covenant baseball team a 6-5 win over Maryville in Saturday's first game before the Scots completed a series sweep with a 14-4 win in game two.
The three-game sweep for Covenant (5-1, 3-0 USA South) is the first such sweep over Maryville in program history. The Scots have won five straight games against Maryville (5-4, 0-3 USA South) going back to last season.
GAME ONE: COVENANT 6, MARYVILLE 5
Down 5-3 in the ninth inning, Covenant once again rallied and Gonzalez's two-run home run to left field capped the comeback and gave the Scots a 6-5 win.
Covenant could have been down more heading into its final at-bat, but Brett Kernodle made a diving catch in center field to rob Maryville's Ian Campbell of an RBI hit and Kernodle doubled up the runner at second to thwart a Maryville scoring chance.
The host Scots took that momentum into the bottom of the ninth. Trevor Grapenthin singled to lead off the inning and Kernodle followed with a walk. After a pitching change, CJ Edmond walked and a wild pitch allowed Grapenthin to score to make it 5-4. Gonzalez came up with two outs and launched a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for the walk-off homer.
The home run was Gonzalez's first of the season.
The teams traded the lead throughout the day. Covenant scored two runs in the second inning, with Grapenthin delivering an RBI single and Kernodle an RBI fielder's choice. Down 3-2 in the sixth, Covenant tied it up once again on a Josh Harvey RBI single.
Andrew Cline went seven innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in his start. Kenny Mills (1-0) collected his first collegiate win after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Gonzalez and Grapenthin had two hits apiece as Covenant had nine hits in the win.
Maryville got 5.1 innings from Zach Messinger. Jacob Hanson (0-1) got the loss in relief. Alden Wright had two hits and a solo home run to lead Maryville.
GAME TWO: COVENANT 14, MARYVILLE 4
Covenant completed the three-game sweep in convincing fashion with a 14-4 win in the series finale.
The Scots scored 10 runs over the third, fourth, and fifth innings to open up the large lead and cruise to the win. Adam Carver (1-0) tossed six strong innings and allowed three runs on seven hits to notch the victory on the mound.
Covenant grabbed the lead for good in the fourth inning with Edmond's two-run single. In the fifth, Covenant scored five runs without a base hit as the Scots worked six walks in the frame to take a 10-5 lead.
Tyler Moore singled home two runs in the seventh, while Hunter Christian had an RBI double in the eighth to cap the scoring outburst for the Scots.
Edmond went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Covenant, while Moore and Andrew Brock had two hits apiece. Nick Pettit and Harrison Richards combined to allow just one run over the final three innings out of the bullpen.
Chris Arbuthnot (1-1) got the loss for Maryville after allowing four earned runs in three innings. Four Maryville players had two hits each.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to No. 4 Birmingham Southern on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. EST (4 p.m. CST).
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