Hartsville, S.C. – With two outs and the bases loaded, Coker senior Mikael Owens (Columbia, SC) struck out Barton’s Jimmy Metzinger to pick up his fifth save of the year and preserve a dramatic 13-10 win for the Cobras over the Bulldogs. Coker was able to battle back and defeat Barton and take their first Conference Carolinas series of the season, 2-1. In a game that had six lead changes and more fireworks than the Fourth of July, the Cobras prevailed and improved their record to 17-28 overall, and 6-18 in the conference, while Barton falls to 27-26 overall, and 11-13 overall.

Barton was the first to strike scoring a run in the top half of the first, but the lead was short lived, as Coker plated two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Barton surged ahead in the third inning, as they scored four runs, two off a triple from Sam Pepper. With another two runs in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs looked as if they may run away with yet another game, but the Cobras weren’t ready to throw the towel in just yet.

Coker took advantage of three consecutive Bulldog errors and a three run homer from Trey Lynch (Florence, SC) to take a 8-7 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Barton took another lead in with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Coker evened things at nine with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Then in the bottom of the seventh, the Cobras took the lead for the final time, as they scored four runs, two from a double down the right field line by Ricky Deleandro (Mentor, OH).

Barton would score one more run in the eighth on an RBI single from Aaron Watkins, but that would be as close as the Cobras would let them get, as Tom Oschip (Concord, OH) and Owens held the Bulldogs to just one run in the final three innings.

Oschip (1-0) earned the win going two superb innings in relief, allowing just one run on five hits, with five strike outs. Owens (5) earned the save tossing a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits with two strike outs.

David King took the loss for Barton, allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief.

Lynch was the offensive leader for Coker, going 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored, while Deleandro was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Julio Gomez (Santa Fe, NM) and Kyle Walker (Centralia, IL) were each 2-for-5 with doubles, with Gomez collecting two RBIs and Walker picking up one. Preston Ford was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

For Barton, Pepper was 4-for-5 with triple, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, while Ryan McCleney and Travis Holloman were each 3-for-5.

Coker will play their final home game of the season on Monday, as they play Augusta State at 3:00 p.m.