By: Jake Miller

MURFREESBORO, N.C.- Coker baseball took both games of its doubleheader at Chowan on Saturday (Feb. 4). The Cobras took the first game 5-4 and the second game 11-1.

Coker got on the board first when P.J. Musselman collected his first collegiate RBI on a single to right in the second. Chowan would score in their half of the frame sending the game to the third tied at one. AJ Strnad got the third started with a single through the left side. The speedster was able to get all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt, waiting with none out for Bryson Conner. Conner popped up to short, giving Thomas Lopez the chance to break the tie. Lopez did just that in a big way, launching a ball over the left field wall for his first big fly of the season.

Darius Coldiron (2-0) would use the momentum from the Lopez homer, and hold Chowan scoreless until the home half of the sixth when Chowan struck for two runs, forcing the right-hander to exit after a solid performance. Coker would counter in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on a single up the middle from Clint Allen. Allen's at-bat was set up after Coldiron was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Brooks Estrada followed up with a single up the middle, and both runners would advance into scoring position for Allen via a wild pitch.

Coldiron fired 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. The senior walked two and struck out six in his first start. Lopez's offensive performance highlighted game one, as the junior went 2-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Four other Cobras recorded hits in the game.

Coker started the second game off with a bang, scoring five runs in the first inning. RBI singles from Coldiron and Estrada got Coker two runs, while Ryan Wayne and Musselman drew walks with the bases loaded for two more. Tanner Crosby also got in on the action with a sacrifice fly in the frame.

The Cobras tallied one in the second, three in the fourth and two in the seventh. Three Cobras recorded two hits apiece in the second win. Will Sutton was masterful in his 2017 debut, firing six scoreless innings. The senior southpaw issued two free passes and punched out four. Brady Shuey also made his first collegiate appearance, tossing one inning allowing one earned run on one hit. The freshman also recorded one strikeout.

Estrada and Allen highlighted the offense on the day, collecting three hits each. Both players were two for three in the nightcap. Coldiron notched two hits in game two, while three other Cobras each got one.

Coker takes on Chowan for two more tomorrow (Feb. 5) with first pitch slated for high noon.