MARCH 29, 2017 - UNION CITY
For the second straight night the Covington Buccaneers took the long bus ride to the Indiana border to play Mississinawa Valley in the CCC opener.

Fortunately for Covington, this trip actually led to some baseball action after the game on Tuesday was cancelled due to poor field conditions from the overnight rain.

And Covington wasn't about to make the trip for a second time and come up empty handed as it broke open a close 3-2 ballgame with seven runs in the top of the fifth inning en route to a 10-3 victory.

Senior hurler Tristin Sowers went five-and-one-third innings to give Covington a much-needed pitching effort after having to use four pitchers in a loss to New Knoxville on Monday.

"He threw strikes," said Covington coach Mitch Hirsch. "At this level it's all about putting the ball across the plate. Overall, Tristin threw well."

Sowers struck out seven and walked for, while surrendering three runs - one unearned and another on a balk.

He was relieved with one out in the bottom of the sixth by Kenny Atkinson, who threw the rest of the way to record the save.

The Buccaneers hit the ball hard throughout the contest, but only managed five official hits.

"We were putting the ball in play, but not for very many base hits," Hirsch said. "A lot of it is timing. We just need to get some more games under our belts."

Ty Freeman recorded two of the hits for Covington - one bing a bases loaded single that scored two runs in the top of the fifth.

Mason Dilley and Tristin Sowers drove in two runs a piece as well.

The win is the first of the 2017 campaign for Covington as it moves to 1-2 on the season and 1-0 in the CCC.

The Buccs travel to rival Newton tomorrow in another critical conference contest.

SCORE BY INNINGS:
Covington - 3 0 0 0 7 0 0 - 10 - 5 - 2
Mississinawa - 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 - 3 - 5 - 3