AUGUSTA, GA.- Coker baseball split its opening day doubleheader with Paine College on Saturday (Jan. 30). The Cobras dropped the first contest 5-4 in eight innings and won the second game 9-2.
The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game one after scoring in the second and third innings. Coker would get on the scoreboard with a Darius Coldiron double that scored Thomas Lopez. Paine would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-1 lead. Coker came to its final at-bat with the score unchanged. Michael Orlowski drew a leadoff walk, and was pinch ran for by Colton Henthrone. Ryan Wayne was hit by a pitch, putting two ducks on the pond for center fielder Clint Allen. Allen singled, putting a Cobra at each base for leadoff hitter Will Winslow with no one out. Winslow drew a walk, cutting the lead to 4-2 and still keeping the bases juiced. Bryson Conner would follow it up with a walk of his own, to cut the lead to one. Thomas Lopez would tie the game with a one out sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Allen and moving the two runners up one base. In the top of the eighth, Coker would get Darius Coldiron to second with one out but would be unable to cash in. Paine would scrape across a run off Darius Coldiron (0-1) in the bottom half of the frame to get the win.
Coker came back in game two, scoring in five consecutive innings and piecing together four multi-run innings. Coker knocked in two runs apiece in each of the first three innings, got one in the fourth, and two more in the fifth. Michael Orlowski went 3-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Miguel Frias was 2-4 at the dish and scored two runs. Ryan Wayne also had a big day at the plate, going 2-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Forrest Arnold (1-0) earned the win, scattering four hits and one earned run over four innings while striking out four. Anthony Scaccia fired a scoreless inning in relief, giving up one hit.
The Cobras will hit the field again on Tuesday (Feb. 2) when they host St. Andrews in their home opener. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at www.cokercobras.com.