COVINGTON, Ga. — Before playing their final two region series, the Alcovy Tigers faced Monroe Area in a non-region doubleheader on April 7. The Tigers came out on the losing end in both games 2-1 and 11-5, respectively. 

Game one was a pitcher’s duel that went an extra inning to decide the winner. 

Reece Payne for Alcovy pitched five innings only allowing two hits, one earned run and six walks. Payne struck out 11 batters, too. 

In the sixth inning, Connor Merritt came on in relief and surrendered the go ahead run. Alcovy got a baserunner in the bottom half of the sixth, but couldn’t make it past first base. 

The Tigers’ lone run was scored off a CJ Salmon groundout that scored Rodgis Ponder from third base. 

There was a bit more offense in the second game of the doubleheader. 

At the end of three innings, Alcovy led 5-3 but then the Tigers surrendered six runs in the fourth to trail 9-5. 

Monroe Area scored two additional runs in the fifth to extend its definitive lead. 

Mehki Phelps led all Tiger batters going 1-for-2 at the plate and recorded two RBIs. Payne Ponder and Connor Coursey each batted a run in apiece to contribute to the early offense, but they couldn’t muster anymore runs past the third inning. 

With the losses, Alcovy drops to 8-16 overall.