COVINGTON, Va. (WVDN) – The Covington Lumberjacks backed a strong pitching performance with a 12-hit offensive attack Thursday night, defeating the Harrisonburg Turks 6-2 at Casey Field. The Turks struck first in the opening inning when Elijah Guilliams led off with a solo home run, but the Lumberjacks answered immediately. Frankie Clark singled and later scored on an RBI single by Darrius Brown to tie the game at 1-1.
Covington took the lead for good in the second inning as Cross Yarborough lined an RBI single to center, scoring Mason Reid for a 2-1 advantage. Kelven Perera extended the lead in the third with a solo home run to center field, and the Lumberjacks broke the game open in the fourth. Yarborough delivered again with a two-run single that scored Chris Carroll and Clark to make it 5-1.
The Jacks added their final run in the eighth when Perera ripped an RBI double to center, bringing home Brown. Harrisonburg scored once in the ninth on a fielder’s choice before Eli Porter recorded the final outs to secure the victory. Covington finished with 12 hits. Clark led the way, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Brown was 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI, while Yarborough finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks. Perera added a home run, double and two RBIs in a 2-for-5 night. Reid also collected two hits and scored.
The Lumberjacks were aggressive on the bases, stealing eight bases. Yarborough swiped three, Brown stole two, while Carroll, Reid and Clark each added one. Lucas Rodriguez earned the win, improving to 3-1 after allowing one run on three hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked two. Quindon Wright tossed two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, Carlos Manzueta allowed one run while recording two outs, and Porter struck out two in a perfect ninth for his second save.
Harrisonburg was limited to five hits. Guilliams accounted for the Turks’ first run with his leadoff homer, while Trey Miranda drove in their other run in the ninth.
Covington finished with six runs on 12 hits and one error, while Harrisonburg totaled two runs on five hits and committed one error.
