North Gwinnett News

Coming off of two wins the previous day, Covenant Softball took on the Transylvania Pioneers on Wednesday, March 8. Though sweeping Asbury on Tuesday 3-2 and 7-3, the Scots could not overcome the Pioneers strong offense.
 
Jenna Yeary was the starting pitcher for the Scots in game one taking on the Pioneers for the first time since Covenant split with Transy last season. However, in the 2023 matchups, the Scots were unable to come away with a win on either game.
 
It was not long until the Pioneers quickly set the pace for the game, earning four of their six runs in the first inning.
 
Covenant responded in the top of the third. The Scots got on to a two-out rally after Lauren Kay doubled to left field. Taylor Murdock carried L. Kay's momentum by advancing her to third on a single drilled to shortstop. A good at bat from Makenna Dance allowed for her to get on base after drawing the walk, so when Vanessa Davis got up to the plate, bases were loaded for the Scots.
 
Davis seized the scoring opportunity for the Scots and drove in both Kay and Murdock for two RBIs. The rally would stop there, however, and the two runs in the top of the third would be the only runs for Covenant in the game.
 
The Scots took that energy into the bottom of the inning and retired the Pioneers in a quick 3-up 3-down fashion.
 
As the game progressed into the sixth inning, Transy would ensure the win with the addition of two more runs. The final score: 6-2.
 
Though the Scots were unable to generate the offensive day that the Pioneers had, Covenant held Transy to no doubles, triples, or homeruns in the contest.
 
The second game played out similarly to the first, with Transylvania gaining momentum early. Their first run came in the first inning, and it was only a few innings later (in the bottom of the third) that the Pioneers would go on a scoring run that the Scots could not shut down.
 
After allowing four runs in the third, freshman pitcher Mackenzie Kirby then came in as a reliever for the Scots in hopes to halt the Pioneers' hot hitting. Transy was able to secure one more run before Covenant could end the inning.
 
The only other run for the Pioneers would come from a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth for A. Schuck.
 
Though Transy was up 7-1, the Scots continued to battle. Lauren Kay hit yet another double and found her way back home after Olivia Stefl drilled one to second base in the fifth inning.
 
As the Scots were able to hold the Pioneers to several scoreless innings late in the game, Covenant was paving the way to comeback. A run from Mackenzie Kirby lessened the deficit and the Scots were now sitting at 7-3 with two innings remaining in the contest.
 
However, Covenant would fall short, not able to utilize their runners in scoring position in the sixth inning. Transy pitcher S. Moshos would shut down the Scots with back-to-back strikeouts for outs two and three.
 
Game two would end 7-3. Lauren Kay and Vanessa Davis both had doubles in the matchup. 

Original source can be found here.