Cobras Win in Extras to Take Road Conference Series

JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. - The Coker University baseball team won the rubber match of their South Atlantic Conference weekend series in extra innings on Sunday (Mar. 20) by a score of 2-1.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first four innings of the game, as both starting pitchers put in solid performances. Senior Brendan Mullins got the start on the hill for the Cobras and went 4 ⅔ innings, only allowing three hits and one unearned run. The Eagles capitalized on a Coker error to push across the first run of the game in the fifth inning and take a 1-0 lead. 

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the ninth inning. Reilly Hall led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cory Listing walked to set the stage for Kody Hanna's clutch RBI double into the left-center field gap to tie the game at 1-1. After a scoreless tenth inning for both clubs, Phill Griffor was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on Cory Listing's sacrifice bunt. Kody Hanna was intentionally walked and Brady Jeffcoat flew out to bring Bryan Castillo to the plate with two outs. Castillo lashed a single through the left side of the infield to bring Griffor across the plate and score the go-ahead run for the Cobras, giving them a 2-1 lead. Zack Hinson shut the door on the Eagles with a perfect bottom of the eleventh inning to clinch the game and the series for the Cobras. 

Kody Hanna led the offensive effort, as he accounted for three hits and drove in one of the two Coker runs. Reilly Hall, Phill Griffor, Bryan Castillo, and Brady Jeffcoat all recorded a base knock on the day with Castillo driving in the game-winning run. The Coker bullpen was stellar once again, as Matt Hyatt, Nolan Leger, Dallas Higuet, and Zack Hinson combined for 6 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief, only allowing one hit. This continued the weekend trend for the bullpen, which provided five or more innings of scoreless relief for the second time in three games. Hinson earned his first winning decision of the season. 

The Cobras return to action Wednesday (Mar. 23), when they travel to Belmont, N.C. for a non-conference game against the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College. First pitch is scheduled for 6pm with live video and statistics available at www.cokercobras.com.