HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- The Coker College baseball team picked up a series victory over Mars Hill after splitting their doubleheader with the Lions on Monday (Feb. 25).
The Cobras dropped their first game by a score of 12-7 before pulling out a tense 3-2 victory in game two thanks to a stellar start from Nathan Landreth.
Mars Hill jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but Coker responded with a pair of runs in the third inning to take a 2-1 advantage. Casey Demko and Grant Thompson began the third inning with a pair of hits, and Lake Lybrand followed with a perfectly placed bunt single to load the bases. Demko scored on a fielder's choice, and Thompson then scored after a stolen base by Hall allowed him to sprint home for the go-ahead run during the rundown.
Thompson picked up two hits in both games of the doubleheader, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. He's now recorded nine multi-hit games, and leads the South Atlantic Conference in hitting with a .500 average.
Chase Bruno delivered the third run for the Cobras in the bottom of the fifth after both Hall and McCabe started the inning off with walks. Bruno then roped a single up the middle scoring Hall and giving Coker what ended up as the decisive run in the game, and ultimately the series.
The Lions answered with a run of their own to cut their deficit to just 3-2 before the Cobras went to Griffin Hollifield to close out the game. Hollifield came on in the top of the sixth to get one out, and then pitched a scoreless seventh inning to secure his first save of the season.
Landreth picked up the first victory of his collegiate career, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing just one run. The freshman improved to 1-1 on the season.
The Cobras will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Augusta in Tom J. New Field at Dave Schmotzer Stadium for a single, nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
McDonald's Player of the Game: Grant Thompson