OXFORD, Ala. -- Covenant softball dropped their opening round matchup of the CCS Tournament to Piedmont, 4-3, at Choccolocco Park in Oxford on Wednesday afternoon.

Julie Mavity and Cailey Barnett kept up their hot hitting with two hits each, while Barnett and Madison Taylor combined to drive in the three runs. Elizabeth Yother (10-11) threw all six innings, allowing two earned runs and picking up a strikeout.

The scoring began in the first inning, when Gracie Lacle led off with a single and then came home later in the frame on Barnett's RBI single.

Barnett added her second RBI in the third inning, sending Mavity sprinting home from second to make it 2-0 Covenant. Taylor tacked on the third Scots run one batter later, singling to right center to score Barnett.

Yother held it down over the first five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) in the fourth to keep it 3-2 Scots with just two innings remaining.

However, the Lions mounted a final comeback effort, scoring two runs in the sixth on three singles and an error to go ahead 4-3.

Jalyn McGee (4-1) earned the win by going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh while throwing 4.1 scoreless innings overall, allowing four hits and striking out one.

Mandi Peretti, Valerie Bailey, and Avarie Easters had two hits each for Piedmont to lead their offense.

UP NEXT

The Scots will play the loser of Belhaven and Maryville tomorrow at 5 p.m., needing a win to avoid elimination.

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.