LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Covenant softball opened their home slate against a tough Berry team, who swept the doubleheader, 13-1, and 4-0, at the Covenant softball field on Thursday afternoon.

GAME ONE: Berry 13, Covenant 1 (5 innings)

Berry's offense got the better of the Scots in game one, as they won in a run rule-shortened five-inning affair, 13-1, in game one.

Charley Clark (0-3), battled through all five frames, but was handed the loss. The offense collected six hits from six different players. 

After the Vikings assembled a 4-0 lead in two and a half innings, the Scots answered back in the bottom of the third with Cassidi Phillips' two-out RBI single, bringing Julie Mavity to the plate.

That would be all for Covenant though, as Berry hit two homers and drove in nine unanswered to pull away.

Lauren Cothern led the offense for the Vikings, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs, while Ava Fouts (2-0), earned the win in the circle and went 2-for-3 at the plate.

GAME TWO: Berry 4, Covenant 0

Elizabeth Yother fired the best start of her freshman campaign, but her opponent in the circle, JJ Sweat, struck out 11 over her seven innings to upend the Scots, 4-0, in game two.

Yother (0-3) was dialed in all game, and even though she did not strike out a batter, her ability to force weak contact was evident throughout, demonstrating her resilience and ability to deal when she did not have her strikeout stuff working.

Cassidi Phillips and Megan Porras added multi-hit efforts offensively, and Porras was also a stud defensively, making every play in left. Madison Taylor added a diving catch of her own later in the game as well.

The Vikings got on the board in the first inning on a sacrifice fly and RBI single, putting the Scots in a 2-0 hole early. Berry added another run in the top of the sixth, but Covenant nearly answered back in the bottom of the inning, getting three consecutive two-out singles, but could not get a run across as a seed from center field cut down Taylor at home to end the inning.

The Scots tried one more time to get some runs across in the seventh, getting two runners on, but Sweat (2-0) earned a punchout and groundout to seal it.

Erica Bennett led the Berry offense with a 2-for-4 effort, driving in a run.

UP NEXT

The Scots have a day off before taking on Kentucky Christian in a doubleheader on Saturday at the Covenant softball field for a 12 p.m. start. 

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.