WILSON, N.C. -- The Covenant baseball team committed six errors and Methodist took advantage as the Monarchs claimed the series victory with a 13-5 win over the Scots on Saturday afternoon at Fleming Stadium.
The series loss is the first for Covenant since the Scots dropped three straight at Huntingdon in March. Covenant still holds on to first place in the USA South, but drop to 21-10 overall and 15-6 in the league. Methodist improves to 19-12 on the season and 13-8 in conference action.
Of the 13 runs for Methodist, just three were earned runs. Still, the Monarchs produced 14 hits led by Stephen Nalls and Tyler Hardee's three hits apiece. Hardee had a pair of RBIs. Steven Kirby launched his second home run of the series, a grand slam in the fourth inning, and finished with a hit and four RBIs.
Covenant starter Alhanon Miller (4-3) picks up the loss as he allowed five runs, two earned on eight hits in 2.1 innings. Relievers Taylor Bloye, Jordan Lester and Chris Rollins combined to throw the final 5.2 innings.
Methodist got on the board with four straight singles that led to two runs in the first inning. The Monarchs added three more runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Covenant cut the deficit to 5-3 with three runs in the third. Rollins took a bases loaded walk and Paul Phillips lofted a shallow single to left field that plated two runs.
A Covenant error allowed the fourth inning to extend and Kirby took advantage with a grand slam to left field, his second homer of the year, that gave the Monarchs a 9-3 lead.
Covenant scored twice in the fifth, both runs coming off the bat of Alex Kerr as he drove in a pair with a pinch-hit single.
Rollins and Phillips both went 2-for-3 while Phillips had two RBIs and Rollins tallied one. Scott Gillespie went 3-for-5 with a run scored and Kerr added a hit in two trips with two RBIs.
Methodist reliever Darin Salter (5-0) gets the win as he went 3.1 scoreless innings after relieving starter Rett Lee. Salter surrendered two hits.
Covenant will return to Lookout Mountain on Tuesday to face non-conference foe Birmingham Southern at 4 p.m.