Hartsville, S.C. – Coker and Barton split their final Conference Carolinas doubleheader of the season on Saturday, as Coker won game one 5-3 and Barton won game two 17-3 in collegiate baseball. After the day, the Cobras moved to 16-28 overall, and 5-18 in the conference, while the Bulldogs are 27-25 overall, and 11-12 in the conference.

Game One
The Cobras opened things up with a run in the first, as Julio Gomez (Santa Fe, NM) blasted a two out double off the left field wall, only to come home on a RBI triple from Scott Amann (New Athens, IL), giving Coker the early 1-0 lead. The Cobras took advantage of three Bulldog errors and two Coker hits to score two more runs in the second inning, for a 3-0 lead.

Barton got on the board in the third, thanks to a run scoring fielders choice from Travis Holloman bringing home Brandon Sneed, cutting the Coker lead to 3-1. Coker would not be out done, plating runs in the fourth and fifth innings, claiming a 5-1 lead. Barton edged their way back scoring two runs in the sixth inning off a two run double from Jimmy Metzinger, but that would be as close as the Cobras would allow them to get, as pitchers Jesse Hatchell (Florence, SC) and Mikael Owens (Columbia, SC) held the Bulldogs scoreless through the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Hatchell (6-5) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits with seven strike outs in eight innings of work, while Owens (3) earned the save, allowing just one hit in one inning of work.

Brandon Brinson took the loss for Barton, allowing five runs on five hits with three strike outs in four and two-thirds innings on the mound.

Leading the Cobras at the plate was Gomez, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored, while Amann was 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Trey Lynch (Florence, SC) was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, with Ricky Deleandro (Mentor, OH) was also 1-for-3 with a run scored and Kyle Walker (Centralia, IL) was 1-for-5 with an RBI.

For the Bulldogs, Metzinger was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Holloman was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Ryan McCleney was the only Bulldog with multiple hits, going 2-for-5.

Game Two
Barton earned their revenge in game number two, as they dominated the Cobras for 17 runs on 22 hits in seven innings. The Bulldogs scored at least a run in six of the seven innings, as they posted three runs in the first, two in the second, and one in the third and fourth innings, four runs in the fifth and six in the seventh inning, for a 17-3 victory.

Coker managed their first run of the game in the second inning, as Deleandro brought home BK Harfst (Arvada, CO) with a RBI triple. The second run came in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Harfst and their third came in the seventh inning on a RBI single from Matt Ammons (Chester, SC).

Chris Thomas (Bluffton, SC) (1-9) took the loss on the mound, going an inning and a third, allowing five runs on six hits.

Sam Pepper earned the win for Barton, allowing one run on three hits in five innings of work, with five strike outs.

For Coker at the plate, Harfst was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Walker was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Deleandro was 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.

Barton was led by McCleney, as he was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored, while Holloman was 4-for-5 with two triples, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Aaron Watkins and Zach Boyette were each 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Coker and Barton will complete their three game series on Sunday; at 1:00 p.m. Coker will honor their six seniors with a special ceremony before the game.