Box Score Six-Run Seventh Leads to 10-9 Decision
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Covenant staged a six-run rally after two were out in the seventh inning and stole a 10-9 decision from Maryville on Saturday afternoon.
Maryville had rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to lead 8-4 in the seventh, with Mitchell Grannan putting up zeroes in a sparkling relief effort. Grannan came on in the third inning and didn't allow a hit until one out in the seventh, but then things got away from the visiting Scots.
With two out and a Covenant runner at first, Covenant batters delivered, in succession, single, double (pitching change), double, single, home run (pitching change) and single. After the smoke cleared, Covenant had scored six times and led 10-8.
Maryville got one run back in the eighth on a Max Bowers ground out, but a Nelson Smith single in the ninth went for naught and Covenant claimed a key series victory.
The win for Covenant keeps the Georgia Scots in the running for a top-four finish. Covenant improved to 7-8 in conference with only three games remaining at Berea (1-11). Maryville dropped to 7-5 and the Scots still have a three-game series at first-place LaGrange (10-2) before finishing at home against Piedmont (6-6).
Smith was 4-for-6 with a pair of runs scored and two batted in. Jimmy Meredith belted a three-run homer in the third that eliminated that early 4-1 deficit. Meredith finished 3-for-4 Saturday and was 7-for-13 for the series.
Zac Graham and Christian Carlton both finished 2-for-5 as Maryville outhit Covenant 14-13.
Jackson Rau earned the pitching victory for Covenant, improving to 2-0. Conor Austin pitched the final two innings for his second save. Damian Lusby took the loss and is now 5-3.
The Scots are back in action next weekend against nationally No. 2-ranked LaGrange, beginning with a Friday night game at 7 o'clock.
