By: Jake Miller
HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker baseball took game one over Erskine 3-2 on Friday afternoon (Feb. 17) at Tom J. New Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium.
Both teams were scoreless until the bottom of the third, when Connor Cleary reached on an error by the Erskine second baseman. A Tanner Crosby sacrifice bunt moved Cleary to second, before Bryson Conner singled up the middle to score Cleary from second breaking the scoreless tie. Coker starter Darius Coldiron worked out of jams in each of the first three innings, with Erskine getting runners in scoring position and failing to cash them in.
After Erskine scored one in the seventh credited to Coldiron and one in the eighth from Hollifield, the right-hander worked a three-up three-down top of the ninth to get the Cobras the series opening win.
Coldiron (3-1) would be lifted after 6.2 innings in favor of sidewinder Griffin Hollifield, who would collect his third save of the year in the outing. Coldiron surrendered 12 hits, one earned run and one walk while punching out five. He also picked two runners off of second base in key situations. Hollifield totaled 2.1 innings allowing one earned run on one hit while recording one strikeout.
Offensively, six different Cobras notched hits in the win. Koski led the way with two RBI while Conner chipped in one as well.
The Cobras look to take the series tomorrow (Feb. 18) when they square off with Erskine at 12:00 p.m. at Tom J. New Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium. The nine inning contest will be followed by a seven inning contest for game three. Tickets for the games are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.
