FEBRUARY 11– The Covenant softball team opened up the 2023 season by traveling to Mississippi University for Women (MUW) for a two-day tournament. Taking on both the Owls of MUW and the Tigers of Sewanee, the Scots were able to play and win three of their four scheduled games. The fourth game against Sewanee was unfortunately canceled due to weather.
 
In their first game of the tournament and the season, the Scots were matched up against the hosting Owls for a noon game. Freshman pitcher Jenna Yeary made her Covenant debut with a complete-game win, allowing only three earned runs in seven innings. 
 
The Scots were led on offense by the performance of junior center-fielder Vanessa Davis, going 2-3 at the plate with a triple and a walk. Sophomore second-baseman Isabella Duran also had an outstanding game as her lone hit for the day was a triple which drove in two runs for the Scots. 
 
Covenant would finish off the first game of the season with a 4-3 victory over MUW, and the Scots would quickly continue their momentum as they took on Sewanee immediately following the win. In another hard-fought matchup, the Scots would earn their second victory of the day against the Tigers by a score of 8-7. 
 
Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Kirby made her college debut for Covenant, earning the win in her first ever start in the blue and white. Totaling six innings pitched, Kirby allowed seven runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts. Jenna Yeary came in for the seventh inning, giving up zero runs and earning the save. 
 
Senior outfielder Mary Elaine Mitchell and sophomore shortstop Helena Nagy both had stellar showings on offense. Both Mitchell and Nagy finished the game with three hits, a double, and two runs scored. Mitchell also had an RBI and a stolen base to her credit. 
 
Returning the following morning with a record of 2-0 on the year, the Scots again faced Sewanee for a Saturday morning matchup. In another incredible display of offense, Covenant took down the Tigers by a score of 10-7. 
 
After two innings pitched by Mackenzie Kirby, Jenna Yeary entered the game in the third inning and would pick up her second win of the season, after pitching the remaining five innings. Giving up only one run in five innings, Yeary would strike out three batters and strand nine on base. 
 
Junior Taylor Murdock and sophomore Alexa Gonzalez were the leaders for the Scots' offense in the third game of the tournament, both ending their day with three hits in four at-bats. Murdock picked up a pair of RBIs and a triple as well to help propel the team into a double-digit score for the contest. 
 
Unfortunately, Covenant's fourth scheduled game of the weekend was canceled due to uncooperating weather. However, this cancellation resulted in the Scots concluding their opening weekend with a 3-0 record. 
 
The Scots will resume action with a double-header on Tuesday at No. 5 ranked Berry, beginning with a 3:00 PM first pitch. 
 
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.