LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- The Covenant softball team got two close wins over the visiting Hawks Saturday afternoon. The Scots took game one 5-4 and game two 4-3.
Though Huntingdon is a USA South opponent, the games were played as regular season contests and do not count for conference records. The victories help the Scots improve to 10-12 overall.
Covenant has now won four of their last five contests and recorded 14 hits and nine RBIs over the two games.
GAME 1: Covenant 5, Huntingdon 4
The Scots rallied in the fifth and sixth innings to come back to get the 5-4 win over the Hawks.
The score remained tied at zero until the third inning when Huntingdon took a 2-0 lead off of three Covenant errors.
It was not to stay that way for long, though, as the Scots would tie the game back up 2-2 in their half of the third. Thanks to a double from Jordan Holman and singles from Faith Manning and Taylor Murdock, Covenant was able to bring in the two runs across the plate.
Though, the visiting Hawks would quickly score two more runs in the fourth, giving them the 4-2 lead.
Entering the fifth inning down by two, a single from Aileen Hill and another by Manning resulted in a run scored, making it 4-3.
After holding Huntingdon scoreless in the top of the sixth, a double by Cope Whitaker brought in the tying run (4-4). Shortly after, the Scots' winning run came by a bases-loaded walk, giving them the 5-4 victory.
Holman was 2-for-3 with two doubles. Manning went 2-for-3 and had two RBIs. Murdock and Whitaker both had an RBI and went 1-for-2.
Lauren Kierpa got the start in the circle for the Scots and records the win (8-7).
The Hawks had seven hits during the contest. Caitlyn Caffee was 2-for-3, and Emma Bauer went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Holly Sharp and Lauren Melton combined for the six pitched innings. Melton earns the loss (2-7).
GAME 2: Covenant 4, Huntingdon 3
Huntingdon tried to use a late-game rally to come back, but the Scots held firm to earn the 4-3 victory.
Covenant jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the fourth and fifth innings. A double by Manning helped bring in the first run in the bottom of the fourth, which was followed by a three-run fifth inning.
The Scots recorded three hits during the rally. Singles by Bailey Johnson and Holman along with a double by Hill helped Covenant enter the sixth inning holding a 4-0 lead.
The Hawks would answer in the top of the sixth with a three-run inning of their own, cutting the lead to one (4-3). But, it was too late, as Kierpa would finish the game not allowing another Huntingdon hit.
Hill was 3-for-4 in game two with two RBIs. Holman extended her hitting streak to 13 games, going 1-for-3. Jennifer Coates started as pitcher for the Scots and gets the win (2-4). Kierpa entered in the sixth inning and is rewarded with her first save of the season.
Emily Nieuwstraten led the Hawks, going 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Elise Maddox got the start in the circle for Huntingdon and records the loss (2-5).
The Hawks fall to 5-13 overall.
UP NEXT
Covenant will face Johnson (Tenn.) for a double-header on Wednesday, March 24. First pitch is scheduled for 1pm EST.
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