HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker Cobras plated six runs in the final four innings to defeat Barton College 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon in collegiate baseball action. With the win the Cobras improve to 5-3 on the season.
Freshman Forrest Arnold (1-0) earned the victory on the mound for the Cobras. He threw an inning and a third of scoreless baseball in his collegiate debut, allowing just two hits and no runs with three strikeouts.
Fico Kondla led the Cobras at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Ernie Kirkwood also had a pair of hits with an RBI and a run scored, while T.J. Giczkowski and Chase Spivey drove in a run each.
The first five innings were a pitching dual as neither team was able to score a run. The Coker pitching staff held the Bulldog batters hitless through the opening five stanzas. In the sixth inning Barton struck first, scoring two runs on two hits. The Cobras answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, to take the 4-2 lead. Two more runs in the bottom of the seventh gave the Cobras the 6-2 win.
The Cobras will return to the field on Friday (Feb. 21) for the first game of a three-game South Atlantic Conference series against Mars Hill University. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Coker's Tom J. New Field.
McDonald's Player of the Game – Fico Kondla