By: Jake Miller
ORANGEBURG, S.C.- Coker baseball swept Claflin in a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday (Mar. 29).
The Cobras took game one 16-4 and game two by a score of 12-4.
Coker scored in five of its seven offensive frames in the first win, beginning with a three-spot in the top of the first. A Thomas Lopez RBI single got the scoring started, while Bryson Conner was able to plate a run on a groundout. Jon Koski padded the lead with a sacrifice fly as the second out of the inning. Claflin mounted a threat in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with no one out. The Panthers did score once, before a lineout to Bryson Conner at short followed by Conner tagging two Claflin runners out recorded an unassisted triple play to end the inning. Coker would go on to score six times in the second, four times in the third, twice in the fourth and once in the sixth in the blowout win.
The six runs in the second were brought home by four different Cobra bats, starting with a two-RBI single from Lake Lybrand. Darius Coldiron brought home another run on an infield single, before a double down the left field line by Bryson Conner brought in another. Scott Burnley then singled up the middle to score Coldiron and Conner to round out the inning. Lopez would collect two more RBI on a double down the left field line that scored Lybrand and Strnad, while Burnley chalked up another RBI reaching on a fielder's choice. A pair of Coldiron singles in the fourth and sixth combined to bring home three runs, totaling the scoring for the Navy and Gold.
Coldiron went 3-4 driving in three in the win, along with a 3-4 effort from Burnley. Lybrand and Lopez each recorded two hits, while seven other Cobras chipped in one hit. Brady Shuey (2-0) earned the win, tossing four innings allowing one unearned run on three hits while walking one and striking out four. Joey Carpenter tossed two innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on three hits. Carpenter struck out one in his appearance. Jake Moore recorded one inning of relief in the contest, allowing one hit and notching one strikeout.
Game two saw Coker jump out in front with one run in the first off a Lopez double that scored Strnad. Neither team scored again until Coker batted around in the fourth and plated 10 runs to blow the game open. Connor Cleary plated the first run of the big inning when he chopped a ball to the right side of the infield that got through Claflin's second baseman, allowing Conner and Coldiron to score. Crosby followed it up with a bunt single that brought home PJ Musselman. Strnad reached on another Claflin fielding error with Cleary scoring on the play. Lopez and Coldiron were hit by pitches in back-to-back at-bats with the bases loaded to plate two runs, followed up by a Conner double that scored two more. Musselman and Cleary would drive in the final two runs of the inning, on a groundout and a double, respectively. Lybrand drove in Coker's 12th run in the fifth on an RBI single through the right side.
Lybrand and Conner each chalked up two hits in the nightcap, with Conner also driving in two and scoring twice. Six other Cobras collected hits in the win. Moore (1-0) earned his first win of the season in one third of an inning, allowing one walk. Matt Ticer made the start in the ballgame, tossing three innings allowing two runs, one earned on two hits while surrendering one walk and punching out three. Jackson Back allowed one hit and struck out one over two thirds of an inning in relief. Koski made a relief appearance, allowing two earned runs on three hits in two innings. The right-hander walked one and fired two strikeouts. Brooks Estrada closed out the game recording one scoreless inning and also striking one out.
Coker returns home to continue South Atlantic Conference play this weekend (Mar. 31-Apr. 1) when they host Anderson. First pitch on Friday is set for 3:00 p.m. at Tom J. New Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium. Saturday will be a doubleheader starting with a nine inning game at 12:00 p.m. followed by a seven inning game starting at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for the games are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.