LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- In a game containing a lot of back and forth action with the visiting Hawks, the Covenant baseball team came out on top, 13-11.
The Scots used 14 hits and 12 RBIs to get their second conference win of the season (2-2 USAS).
Covenant struck hard and early, scoring three runs off of four hits in the bottom of the first inning. The rally started with back-to-back singles from Lewis Saunders and Alex Gonzalez, putting runners on first and second.
After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, the first Covenant run was brought in by a sacrifice fly from Tyler Moore. The next two scores came off the bat of Hunter Christian, as he would hit a two-run shot over the left field fence, giving the Scots a 3-0 lead after the end of the first.
After holding the Hawks scoreless in the top of the second, Covenant brought in another two runs off of two hits in their half of the inning, all coming with two outs.
After Saunders recorded his second single of the contest, Gonzalez hit an RBI triple, giving the Scots a 4-0 lead. And after a throwing error allowed Gonzalez to score, the score sat at 5-0 in favor of Covenant after two innings.
But, Huntingdon's bats would come alive in the top of the third, as they would connect on six hits to bring in six runs. The Hawks used four singles and doubles from Colin Whibbs and Ryan Greene to take the 6-5 lead over the Scots.
The runs would continue to come in, though, for Covenant, as they scored twice more in the bottom of the third to take back the lead once again. The Scots used RBI doubles from Josh Harvey and Joseph Ridenour to gain a 7-6 lead.
After Huntingdon failed to score in the top of the fourth, Covenant recorded a five-run inning to extend their lead to six runs (12-6). Christian hit a RBI double to start the rally off, making it 8-6. Soon after, Harvey was hit by a pitch, and a two-RBI single from McKaleb Harlemon extended the lead to four (10-6).
After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly from Saunders brought in Harlemon to make it 11-6 in favor of the Scots. Gonzalez then finished off the scoring run with his third hit of the game, an RBI double, giving Covenant a 12-6 lead.
Covenant was held scoreless for the first time in the game during the fifth inning, and Huntingdon would answer in the top of the sixth with two runs on two hits of their own. Singles from Dawson Kuba and Nick Swisher helped bring in the scores, making it 12-8.
Gonzalez would strike again though in the bottom of the sixth, with an RBI single to extend Covenant's lead back out to five (13-8).
After a scoreless seventh for both teams, Huntingdon would score three in the top of the eighth to come within two of the Scots (13-11). After the bases were loaded thanks to two hits and a walk, Swisher hit a bases-clearing double to bring in all three runs for the Hawks.
With Swisher on second threatening to score, Cody Gibson would come into the game to pitch and recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the rally. From there, Covenant was able to seal the 13-11 victory.
Covenant had several players with multi-hit games. Gonzalez was 4-for-6 with three RBIs, a home run short of the cycle. Christian went 2-for-4 with three RBIs as well. Harvey was 3-for-4, and Ridenour and Saunders were both 2-for-4.
Adam Carver (4-3) got the start on the mound for the Scots and pitched 5.1 innings, with five earned runs and four strikeouts. Noah Sweatman and Gibson pitched relief, and Gibson earns his second save on the year.
Huntingdon recorded 14 hits as well. Swisher went 2-for-4 with five RBIs. Whibbs was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, and Greene went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Ethan Hess (0-1) started at pitcher, pitching 2.1 innings and striking out one. Andrew Tubbs pitched 4.2 innings of relief with one earned run and six strikeouts.
Covenant improves to 16-8 overall, while the Hawks fall to 9-14 (1-5 USAS).
UP NEXT
Covenant will face Huntingdon tomorrow, Saturday, April 17 for a double-header. First pitch is scheduled for 12PM EDT.
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