LAGRANGE, Ga. — The Covenant softball team opened up conference play on Friday afternoon with a road sweep of LaGrange.
The Scots recorded 15 hits between the two contests, including a grand slam from Makenna Dance in game two.
GAME 1: Covenant 5, LaGrange 2
The Scots used a four-run fifth inning to come back from behind and win game one, 5-2.
Covenant tallied 10 total hits, with three players recording multi-hit games. Vanessa Davis went 3-of-4, while Jordan Holman was 2-of-4. Helena Nagy also had two hits, going 2-for-3.
The Panthers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead thanks to a two-RBI double from Lindsey Green in the bottom of the first.
The score would remain that way until the top of the fifth when Covenant would score four runs off of two hits and four LaGrange errors (4-2).
Back-to-back errors from the Panthers' defense helped Alexa Gonzalez and Lauren Kay reach base. The second error brought Gonzalez around to score, making it 2-1.
Holman then singled and advanced to third base on another LaGrange error, which brought Kay in to score and tie the game, 2-2.
After that, the Scots would tack on two more runs after Davis singled and was brought around to score along with Holman thanks to yet another LaGrange error, giving Covenant the 4-2 lead.
Starting pitcher Lauren Kierpa would only allow the Panthers one more hit for the remainder of the contest. And after a triple from Holman and an RBI sacrifice fly from Cope Whitaker gave the Scots another run in the top of the seventh, they were able to seal the three-run victory (5-2).
Kierpa (4-6) finished with three strikeouts, three walks, and two earned runs in seven innings pitched.
Green was 1-of-3 with two RBIs, while Karli Whitaker and Abbey Gardner both went 2-for-3. Gardner (3-7) pitched the entirety of the contest for the Panthers, recording three strikeouts, zero walks, and one earned run.
GAME 2: Covenant 9, LaGrange 7
Dance launched her first career grand slam in the first inning to help the Scots to a 9-7 victory in game two.
The Scots picked up right where they left off, as they would score seven runs in the first inning.
After Holman was walked, Davis doubled down the left field line, quickly making it 1-0 in favor of Covenant.
Rebecca Hazard was then walked, and Nagy reached on an error, loading the bases. Two consecutive Scots were then once again walked, bringing in two more scores (3-0).
With the bases still loaded, Dance then launched a home run over the centerfield fence, scoring four runs and making it 7-0. It was the sophomore's first career homer.
But the Panthers were not to be out done.
In their half of the first, they would use three hits, including two doubles, to cut the deficit to three (7-4).
LaGrange would slice the Scots' lead further in the bottom of the third when three hits, including a homer from Kenzie Hornsby, scored two more runs and made it 7-6.
After a scoreless fourth for both teams, the Scots would extend the lead back out to three by scoring two more runs in the top of the fifth. Three walks and a passed ball helped Covenant take a 9-6 lead without recording a single hit during the inning.
The Panthers would tack on another run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI-double from M White (9-7). They would also have a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh. But Covenant's defense was able to shut down the threat, earning the 9-7 win.
Dance went 1-of-3 with four RBIs. Madison Murphy, Davis, and Holman also were 1-for-3. Madison McDonald started in the circle for the Scots and pitched three innings. Maggie Harris (1-0) came on for four innings of relief and recorded five strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run.
Hornsby was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Gardner went 1-of-4 with two RBIs. Lindsey Swearngin (1-6) got the start at pitcher for the Panthers, but was quickly relieved by Macy Harris who recorded one strikeout, five walks, and three earned runs in four innings pitched.
The Scots improve to 11-8 overall (2-0 USAS), while LaGrange falls to 4-15 (0-2 USAS).
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to face Huntingdon tomorrow, March 26. First pitch is scheduled for 1 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.
