DEGRAFF – For the second straight year the Covington Lady Buccs share the TRC Championship with Miami East after defeating Riverside 18-5 in the regular season finale on Monday.

Covington built a 7-0 lead through the first three innings, but left the bases loaded in the first and third innings.

Riverside scored a run in the fourth and then two in the fifth on a two-run homer run after Covington managed a run in the top of the fifth.

The Lady Buccs scored six runs in the top of the sixth to take a 14-3 lead with the big hit coming with the bases loaded by Reaghan Lemp, who drove in three runs on a shot in right-center that bounced to the fence.

The hope for a run-rule victory was eliminated by Riverside as Covington committed an error and the Pirates followed with another two-run home run to make the score 14-5 with one inning to play.

Covington scored four more runs in the top of the seventh and then recorded three straight outs in the bottom of the inning for the 18-5 victory.

The Lady Buccs tallied 23 hits on the night with Maggie Anderson leading the way with five hits, three RBI and scoring a run. Nigella Reck went 4-for-5 with six RBI and scored four times, while Reaghan Lemp drove in four runs on three hits. Meg Rogers, Mara Newhouse, Karyanne Turner, Taylor Foutz and Erika Gostomsky all had two hits each and Emma Ouellette connected on a base hit as well.

Meg Rogers picked up the win in the circle and Erika Gostomsky recorded the save. Rogers struck out five batters and allowed just three hits in four innings, w while Gostomsky struck out two and allowed five hits in two innings of action.

Covington improves to 25-4 on the season and finishes 12-2 in league play.

The Lady Buccs host Tri-County North tomorrow (Tuesday) in the sectional final.