HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker baseball team pounded out 18 hits, scoring 20 runs in a 20-3 rout of Erskine College on Friday afternoon. The win improves the Cobras to 21-20 overall and 11-11 in Conference Carolinas play.
Five Cobras had multiple hits, while Tyler Witzel was lights out on the mound.
Witzel (3-3) went eight innings allowing three runs on six hits with nine punch-outs.
Taylor Martin was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Brinley Griffin was 4-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Fico Kondla finished the day with three hits, including a double and a triple with two RBIs and three runs scored. Chad Nader and Frank Suarez each had two hits, with Nader plating two runs and Suarez scoring three.
Coker opened the game with a five run first inning. They added four more in the third, another one in the fourth and five more in the fifth. Both teams exchanged runs in the seventh, with Erskine adding two more in the top of the eighth. The Cobras capped off their scoring with four runs in the bottom half of the eighth.
The Cobras will complete their three-game series with Erskine on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon. Prior to the start of the games, coach Dave Schmotzer and the Cobras will honor their six seniors with a special senior day ceremony.
McDonald's Player of the Game- Taylor Martin
Martin was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
The McDonald's Player of the Game is presented by the Hartsville McDonald's and is given to the most outstanding performer during each Coker College home athletic event.