Berea @ Covenant – Weekend Series
GAME 1
Berea 23, Covenant 16
Berea College (6-10) (2-5)
Covenant College (8-8) (3-3)
GAME 2
Covenant 19, Berea 7
Covenant College (9-8) (4-3)
Berea College (6-11) (2-6)
GAME 3
Berea 5, Covenant 3
Berea College (7-11) (3-6)
Covenant College (9-9) (4-4)
LOOKOUT MT., GA- The Berea baseball team traveled to conference opponent Covenant College Friday morning for a weekend stint with the Scots. Berea won the Friday afternoon contest (23-16), lost the first game Saturday (19-7), and won the finale (5-3) against their conference opponents. The series victory marks their first as a part of the USA South Athletic Conference.
Game 1 featured former USA South Rookie pitcher of the week, Brendan Grider, on the mound for the Mountaineers. The freshman did is part in giving Berea a shot towards victory. Grider tossed 3 innings and despite allowing 8 hits and 7 runs, the Mountaineers' offense had their pitchers back. The men combined for 18 hits and 21 RBI's. Junior Aaron Duncan got the win in the contest relieving Grider. Sophomore Dylan Sallee came onto pitch 2.1 innings, and freshman Zach Perrin finished the contest, tossing the final 1.2 innings.
Notable Performances-
Josh Wilson: 1-4, 3 RBI's, 2 Runs, 3 BB's
T.C. Eads: 4-5, 4 RBI's, 3 Runs
Cam Dacci: 2-6, 2 RBI's, 2 Runs, 1 BB
Bryce Zachary: 2-4, 1 RBI, 4 Runs, 1 BB
Logan Gayheart: 2-6, 3 RBI's, 1 Run
Nick Bottoms: 3-4, 4 RBI's, 2 Runs, 1 BB
Andrew Akins: 2-4, 2 RBI's, 2 Runs, 1 BB
The second contest was an up and down affair. Berea scored early runs on the Scots, but the Scots answered. Berea's Josh Wilson battled, but just didn't have his best stuff on the rubber. Mountaineers' pitchers Grant Cobb, Logan Gayheart, and Michael Gill all saw action in the 8-inning game. The offensive highlight of the contest included Gayheart adding to his season homerun total in the 8th, hitting his 3rd homer of the season. The Mountaineers fell to the Scots, 19-7.
Notable Performances-
Josh Wilson: 2-4, 2 Runs
Logan Gayheart: 3-4, HR, 2 Runs, 4 RBI's
Cam Dacci: 1-4, 2 RBI's
The second contest Saturday was back in Berea's favor. The Mountaineers came out firing on all cylinders behind senior starter, Griffen Norris. Norris tossed Berea's first complete game of the season, while only allowing 3 runs on 7 hits. Norris limited walks, by issuing only 2, and struck out 4. Offensively, the Mountaineers took aim at the weathered Covenant pitching staff. Juniors Cam Dacci and Nick Bottom wreaked havoc on the Scots; the two combined for 4 hits and 3 RBI's. Berea won the rubber game 5-3.
Notable Performances-
Griffen Norris: 9.0 IP, 7 Hits, 3 Runs Allowed
Nick Bottoms: 2-5, 1 Run, 1 RBI
Cam Dacci: 2-4, 2 RBI's
The men will look to continue their winning ways in the coming week. Wednesday, the team will host in-state opponent Asbury lined up for a 6:00pm contest at the Berea College sports complex. Looking ahead to the weekend, the Mountaineers host conference opponent Piedmont with each day hosting an individual game. Action begins Friday at 6:00pm.