MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Covenant baseball team swept conference foe Huntingdon on the road in dramatic fashion on Saturday, with three home runs coming from senior Alex Gonzalez.
The wins are the fourth and fifth in a row for the Scots, as they continue to wreak havoc in the hitting category. In the last five wins, Covenant has averaged 10.8 runs per game and 15.2 hits per game. The team currently leads the USA South in runs scored, home runs, and RBIs.
Though Huntingdon is a USA South opponent, the games were played as a non-conference series. The Hawks will play at Covenant for a three-game series starting April 16 which will be regarded as conference contests and will be counted in the USA South standings.
GAME 1: Covenant 11, Huntingdon 5
The Scots continued their hot hitting, scoring 11 runs off of 13 hits in game one. The hits included three doubles and two home runs.
After a Brooks DuBose single and a couple of Huntingdon errors gave Covenant a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Hawks answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of Huntingdon until the top of the fourth, when the Scots produced a three-run inning to take a 4-2 lead. Doubles from McKaleb Harlemon and Lewis Saunders, and singles from Hunter Christian and Kenny Mills helped Covenant record four hits for the inning.
After holding the Hawks scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the Scots recorded a six-run fifth inning off of four hits, including two homers.
Tyler Moore and Joseph Ridenour both had singles, which helped bring in a score. Harlemon hit a two-run bomb to bring in two more runs, while Alex Gonzalez brought in three with his three-run home run.
It was the third home run this season for Harlemon and his third in his last five appearances.
After extending the lead to 11-2, the Hawks would score three more times in the remainder of the contest, but it was not nearly enough as the Scots would secure the 11-5 victory.
Gonzalez went 1-for-6 with a three-RBI home run. Harlemon waas 2-for-5 with his double and two-RBI homer. Ridenour went 3-for-5, and Mills was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Adam Carver got the start on the mound for the Scots and pitched six innings, striking out four. Cody Gibson pitched three innings of relief, allowing only one hit.
Cullen Stafford was 1-for-4 for the Hawks, with a home run. Colton Clark went 2-for-5. Carden Mellown got the start at pitcher and was relieved by Patrick Sawyer, who earned the loss (2-3).
GAME 2 (14 innings): Covenant 14, Huntingdon 11
Ken Burke hit a three-run bomb in the 14th inning to give the Scots the 14-11 victory. The 14 innings ties the program record for longest game
Huntingdon used hot fourth and sixth innings to take an 8-3 lead over Covenant. The Hawks recorded a four-run fourth inning off of two hits. After holding the visiting Scots scoreless in the fifth, four hits would bring in three more runs for Huntingdon in the sixth.
But, the lead would be short lived, as Covenant would string together four hits and five runs in the top of the seventh, tying the game at 8 runs apiece.
After Burke and Saunders were walked, Gonzalez hit his first home run of the game (and second of the day) to make it 8-6. Then, two more hits and a walk loaded the bases for Covenant, as Zeke Gilbert brought in the tying runs off a single to right field.
Headed into the top of the eighth tied 8-8, DuBose would break the tie with his two-run homer, giving Covenant the 10-8 lead. The lead was not to last long, though, as the Hawks would tie it back up 10-10 off of two hits in their half of the eighth.
Huntingdon had the opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth with runners in scoring position. But, Covenant's defense held out to force extra innings.
The score remained 10-10 until the 13th inning. The go-ahead run came from none other than Gonzalez, who hit yet another home run to give the Scots the 11-10 lead. The home run was his second of the game and third on the day.
Gonzalez has now hit nine homers for the season and leads the USA South in home runs.
The lead was again short lived, however, as the Hawks would bring in a run to tie it at 11 in the bottom of the 13th after a sacrifice fly from Adams Bragg brought in Colin Whibbs who was at second after hitting a double.
The teams entered the 14th inning tied 11-11.
After Josh Harvey was walked, he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Christian then singled to second base, advancing Harvey to third. And after Trevor Grapenthin flew out to left field, it was Burke's turn.
Burke would proceed to hit a three-run home run, bringing in the winning runs and resulting in the 14-11 win. It was Burke's first career home run.
And after a double play and a fly out for Huntingdon, the Scots sealed the win after 14 innings.
Gonzalez was 2-for-7 with two home runs and four RBIs. DuBose went 2-for-7 with two RBIs. Gilbert was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Christian went 3-for-5. Burke finished game two going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Zach Tolleson got the start on the mound for the Scots, pitching 7.1 innings and stricking out eight. Mills pitched 3.2 innings of relief, and Austin Clark finished it out, earning the win (2-0).
Clark went 3-for-6 with two RBIs in game two for Huntingdon. Wallace Henry started at pitcher for the Hawks, while Tucker Duke (2-2) finished the game.
Covenant improves to 14-6 overall, while Huntingdon falls to 8-9.
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to LaGrange for a three-game conference series. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 7pm EDT on Friday, April 2.
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