KODAK, Tenn. – It was a day for the pitchers as the Covenant baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader with the Panthers at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tennessee.

Covenant's starting pitchers Bryce Bollinger and Zach Tolleson combined for 12 strikeouts and just one earned run over the course of the two contests.

The split brings the Scots to 5-6, while Ferrum sits at 7-4.

GAME ONE (7 innings): Covenant 2, Ferrum 0

Bollinger threw six scoreless innings to help the Scots to a 2-0 victory in game one.

Bollinger finished the contest with five strikeouts, four walks, and zero earned runs while allowing just four hits. The sophomore also threw three consecutive hitless innings to help the Scots gain the shutout win.

Both teams struggled to score until Covenant put two on the board in the seventh and final inning. Covenant had only recorded three hits while the Panthers had just two after six innings of play.

In the top of the seventh, Kenny Mills reached second base after being hit by a pitch and moved over by a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Cox. Josh Harvey then brought in the Scots' first run with an RBI single up the middle (1-0).

Covenant would quickly tack on another run thanks to an RBI single to right field in a pinch hitting appearance from Jackson Redmon, making it 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. 

After Ferrum put runners in scoring position thanks to two back-to-back singles, Conor Austin came in to relieve Bollinger. The senior then proceeded to garner two consecutive strikeouts followed by a groundout to seal Covenant's game one victory. 

Bollinger (3-0) received the win, while Austin earned his first save of the season. Harvey went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Redmon was a perfect 1-for-1 with an RBI.

The Panthers were not allowed an extra-base hit, as all four of their hits were singles. Will Davis (1-2) pitched the entirety of the contest, allowing six hits with two earned runs, zero walks, and six strikeouts.

GAME TWO: Covenant 1 , Ferrum 2

Though the Panthers ultimately came out on top, Tolleson continued the hot pitching for the Scots in game two. The sophomore recorded seven strikeouts, zero walks, and one earned run in six innings pitched.

Covenant struck first, putting the first run on the board in the top of the fourth thanks to three hits during the inning. Singles from Mills and Redmon added to a double from Cox helped the Scots take a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers quickly answered in the bottom of the fifth, though, with a run and two hits of their own, making it 1-1.

The score would stay that way until the bottom of the eighth inning when Ferrum would use two singles to tack on another run (2-1).

The Panthers' defense then recorded three quick Covenant outs, sealing their game two victory.

McKaleb Harlemon was 1-for-3 with the Scots' lone RBI, while Mills went 2-of-4. Mills (0-2) also pitched two innings of relief, with one walk and one earned run.

Ozzie Torres and Clayton Michael were both 2-for-3 for Ferrum. Sal Lettieri got the start on the mound for the Panthers, recording four strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run in 7.1 innings pitched. Matthew Sheppard (3-0) received the win after throwing 1.2 innings of relief with two strikeouts, zero walks, and zero earned runs.

UP NEXT

Covenant will travel to face Bob Jones for the first of a three-game series on Friday, March 11. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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