By: Jake Miller
HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker baseball picked up a midweek non-conference win on Tuesday (April 19) holding off UNC Pembroke 11-9.
The game was tied 1-1 after two and a half before Coker exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third. AJ Strnad had one of his four singles to start the inning, before scoring on a Colton Henthorne double down the left field line. Will Winslow mashed a double of his own to score Henthorne, and Jack Leech followed up with a single to score Winslow. Back to back sacrifice flies from Miguel Frias and Bryson Conner capped off the big inning, as the Cobras take the 6-1 lead. They would plate two more in the fourth, before the Braves rallied for five of their own in the top of the fifth. Coker added another run in its half of the sixth, and two more in the eighth. UNC Pembroke scored twice in the top of the ninth, before Kenny Barry was able to put an end to the threat for his first save of the season.
Strnad and Winslow each tallied four hits in the win, along with Leech's 3-4 day with four RBI's. Darius Coldiron collected two hits, while Henthorne, Thomas Lopez and Frias each chipped in one.
J.T. Whritner (1-0) earned the win in relief, getting one out in the top of the fifth after allowing one run on one hit and issuing one free pass. The out recorded was a strikeout. The southpaw relieved starter Ryan Milner, who allowed six runs, five earned on nine hits while walking one in 4.2 innings of work. Jake Moore fired three scoreless innings while Ben Brown also made a relief appearance.
The Cobras (27-17, 11-10 SAC) will take the field again on Friday (April 22) when they begin a three-game set with conference foe Newberry. First pitch on Friday is set for 3:00 p.m. from Tom J. New Field.
McDonald's Player of the Game- Will Winslow