By: Jake Miller
HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker baseball will take on Barton College on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 14) in an effort to complete the season sweep. Video and live stats will be available at www.cokercobras.com.
The two teams met back on Feb. 28 in Wilson, N.C. in a game that Coker won in decisive fashion 22-5. Thomas Lopez shined in the win, going 4-5 driving in three runs and scoring twice. Jon Koski, AJ Strnad, Darius Coldiron, Bryson Conner, Connor Cleary and Clint Allen each collected two hits, while five other Cobras registered hits in the win. On the bump, Brady Shuey (1-0) earned the win, firing two shutout innings allowing two hits and one walk while recording one strikeout. Matt Ticer chucked two innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on five hits while issuing one free pass. Brooks Estrada registered his second appearance of the season, tossing one inning and allowing three earned runs on three hits while giving up one walk. Cody Brown continued his stellar work out of the pen, logging two scoreless innings allowing one hit, one walk and striking out two. Jackson Back pitched one scoreless inning, recording one hit allowed and one strikeout. Jon Koski finished off the ninth on the mound, giving up two hits and one walk while punching out one.
The Cobras (13-8, 5-4 SAC) took one of three games from No. 24 Catawba this past weekend, winning game two of the series 10-1.
On the season, Coker is led offensively by Lopez, whose team-high .355 batting average is tied for 19th individually in the league. Koski's .352 mark is 21st individually in the league, right behind the junior Lopez. Lopez's .446 on-base percentage is 16th-best in the league. On the mound, Coldiron's four wins are fourth-most in the SAC while Griffin Hollifield leads the league in saves with five.
The Bulldogs come into the rematch 14-10 overall and 1-8 in Conference Carolinas play. Calvin Hawke holds the hot bat for Barton, hitting .421 through 21 games, which is fourth in Conference Carolinas. Teammate Andrew Webster is fifth in the league with a .396 batting average.
First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Tom J. New Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium. Tickets for the game are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.