LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Not often does a college softball team schedule a tripleheader during the regular season, but that's what the Covenant softball team experienced on Monday. The Scots also experienced timely hitting, strong pitching, and strong defense as Covenant took two wins.

Covenant (7-7) defeated Webster, 3-2, to open the day before falling to Webster, 5-2. In the finale, the Scots held off Transylvania, 3-2.

GAME ONE: Covenant 3, Webster 2

A go-ahead RBI single from Jordan Holman in the bottom of the sixth inning helped the Scots to a 3-2 victory over Webster in game one.

The Gorloks tallied six hits in the contest, but could ultimately only convert them into two runs.

Covenant's first run came in their half of the second, thanks to a single from Holman and a sacrifice fly from Kathleen Carpenter (1-0).

After both teams went hitless and scoreless during the third inning, Webster used three hits to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. A two-RBI single from Sheyla Iniguez helped bring the two runs to the plate.

The Scots quickly tied it up, though, in the bottom of the fifth. After Taylor Murdock doubled and Carpenter singled, the players produced a double steal, bringing in Murdock.

After holding the Gorloks scoreless in their half of the sixth, Covenant had the chance to take the lead.

Lauren Kay drew a leadoff walk and then proceeded to steal second base, placing her in scoring position. With two outs and a Kay still on second, Holman delivered an RBI single center field to make it 3-2.

Lauren Kierpa made quick work of Webster in the seventh to complete the win. Kierpa (2-5) threw a complete-game and surrendered two earned runs, two walks with six strikeouts.

Holman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Carpenter and Murdock had one hit apiece.

Sarah Shephard (1-2) got the start in the circle for the Gorloks and recorded three earned runs, one walk, and seven strikeouts in six innings pitched.

GAME THREE: Covenant 3, Transy 2

Kay's two-run homer in the second inning proved to be the difference as Covenant held off Transy, 3-2, in the day's finale.

Covenant trailed 2-0 after the top of the first, but answered in the home-half of the frame on Vanessa Davis' RBI double. In the second, a two-out rally sparked by Alexa Gonzalez's single led to Kay blasting a two-run homer over the left-center field fence to give the Scots a 3-2 lead.

The homer was Kay's team-leading third of the year.

Defense and pitching then helped the Scots hold off visiting Transy (6-4). Davis made a diving catch in center field to end the third inning and Kay made a snag on a liner at third in the fifth. The game ended with a 1-6-3 double play as Madison McDonald fielded a comebacker and rifled the ball to second where Holman caught and made a quick throw to first to complete the play and the win.

McDonald was a standout in the circle. McDonald (2-2) came on in relief in the first inning and threw the final 6.2 innings of scoreless ball. She allowed just one hit while scattering three walks and a strikeout.

Kay was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Davis and Gonzalez had one hit each.

Transy starter Carlee Jeter (3-3) got the loss after tossing six innings and striking out four.

GAME TWO: Webster 5, Covenant 2

In the Scots' lone loss of the day, it was a four-run sixth inning that enabled Webster to rally for a 5-2 victory.

After the visiting Gorloks scored the first run in the third, Covenant answered with two runs in the fourth. An RBI single from Makenna Dance followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gonzalez quickly made it 2-1 in favor of the Scots.

But, the bats got hot for Webster in the top of the sixth, as they would tally four runs off of four hits to give them a three-run lead (5-2). Four singles plus a bases-loaded walk helped the Gorloks comeback effort.

Murdock was 2-for-3, while Dance was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Carpenter also was 1-of-3 with a run scored. 

McDonald (1-2) started at pitcher for the Scots and tallied four earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. Maggie Harris pitched 1.2 innings of relief with two walks.

Jaelin Holdaway led Webster, going 2-of-4 with two RBIs, while Katie Croxall was 3-for-4. Starting pitcher, Braidyn Burr, pitched 1.1 innings before being relieved by Arianna Arias. Arias (1-0) earned the win after pitching 5.2 innings and recording two earned runs, two walks, and four strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Covenant hosts Transy for one game on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.