LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Pitching and timely hitting was once again at the forefront for the Covenant softball team on Saturday as the Scots swept a doubleheader at NAIA foe Johnson. The Scots took game one, 3-2, before completing the sweep with a 4-2 win in the finale.

It is the first doubleheader sweep for Covenant (9-8) on the season.

GAME ONE: Covenant 3, Johnson 2

Lauren Kierpa tossed a complete-game and held off a Johnson rally in the seventh as the Scots took game one, 3-2.

Kierpa (3-6) struck out seven and scattered six hits and two runs in the win. It was a season-high seven strikeouts for Kierpa as she collected her fifth complete-game of the season.

The Scots got on the board with a run in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Lauren Kay started the rally with a two-out double and then scored on an RBI single from Mary Elaine Mitchell. In the fourth, Covenant added to its lead on Helena Nagy's sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Covenant tacked on a run in the sixth when Taylor Murdock singled home Jordan Holman.

The sixth-inning run turned out to be crucial as Johnson put together a rally in the seventh. The host Royals had the game-tying run at second base, but Kierpa stranded the runner there to end the game.

Holman went 2-for-3 with two runs for the Scots while Kay, Mitchell, Murdock, Nagy, and Makenna Dance had one hit each.

Johnson starter Graysen Lowery got the loss after going the distance and allowing three runs on seven hits.

GAME TWO: Covenant 4, Johnson 2

A four-run sixth inning for Covenant backed a strong effort in the circle from Madison McDonald as the Scots completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory.

A scoreless game entering the sixth inning, the Scots put up four runs in the inning. Holman gave the Scots the lead with her run-scoring single that played Kay. Two batters later, a wild pitch brought in another run before Rebecca Hazard broke open the game with her two-run single to make it 4-0.

McDonald (3-2) tossed her first seven-inning complete game as she allowed just two runs, one earned, on five hits with a strikeout. The freshman did not allow a hit until the third inning.

Like in game one, Johnson (2-10) tried to rally late. The Royals got on the board with a run in the sixth and added another in the seventh, but McDonald held the hosts at bay to complete the sweep.

Holman had three more hits, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Kay added two hits and a stolen base.

Hunter Troutt got the loss in the circle for Johnson.

UP NEXT

Covenant opens USA South play at LaGrange on March 25.

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.