COVINGTON – The Covington Buccaneers captured an 8-3 victory over Houston on Friday to improve to 5-7 on the season.

Much of the game was a pitching and defensive battle as nether team could put many runs on the board through the first four innings. Fortunately the Buccaneers scored a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 until the Buccaneers broke through with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, a sequence that forced a pitching change for Houston.

Through the first five innings junior hurler Ashton Skaggs threw extremely well by holding Houston scoreless with help from the defense behind him. Skaggs struck out eight batters as well.

Houston was able to adjust and scored three runs in the top of the sixth to cut the Buccaneer advantage to 4-3. Two of the runs put up were unearned.

Covington showed determination by plating four runs in the bottom of the sixth to give itself a five-run cushion heading into the top of the seventh. Senior Carson Taylor took over on the hill and recorded the three finals outs needed to secure the win.

Skaggs picked up the win for the Buccs and Taylor recorded the save.

Covington tallied 9 hits on the day with Tyler Jay, Jacob Tipps and Connor Humphrey recording to hits each. The other three hits came off the bats of Carter Owens, Brairen Denson and Michael Hagan.

The Buccaneers have ten more games left on the schedule to prepare for the post season and eight of them are on the road.

Next up for the Buccs is a huge showdown at Miami East on Monday.