HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker softball team extended their win streak to six on Thursday (Mar. 7), after defeating West Liberty University in both games of a double-header series. With the win the Cobras improve to 10-4 on the year.
Coker took an early 1-0 lead in the first game after Jaclin Poole singled down the right field line to score Sydney Weatherford in the bottom of the first.
The Cobras would then shut down West Liberty's offense for the next two innings, but allow a run to be scored in the top of the fourth for the Hilltoppers.
As the score was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, catcher Stacy Burr stepped up to the plate with one on and nobody out. Burr then proceeded to single to left field, and sent Jaclin Poole around the bases to take the go-ahead 2-1 run.
The next two batters would reach to load the bases as Lauren Brailsford entered the batters box. Brailsford then grounded out to second, but sent Burr home to advance the score to 3-1.
During the next at bat, Breanna Skipper would hit a double to right center that allowed for two more Cobras to score. Coker ended the fourth inning with four runs on two hits to take a comfortable 5-1 advantage.
After holding off the Hilltoppers in the top of the fifth to no runs, the navy and yellow went on to score three more runs thanks to RBIs from Burr, Gallman, and Brailsford.
In the bottom of the sixth, 2-of-3 batters advance putting runners in scoring position. Burr then connected on a pitch and doubled to right center to send in the game ending RBI home, as the Cobras won game one 9-1 in six innings.
Lauren Phillips would improve her record to 5-2 on the year, after pitching six innings and only allowing one run on six hits. Phillips also had four strikeouts.
In game two Coker found themselves down 1-0 during the early innings.
The Cobras however, would regain the lead after scoring two runs in the bottom of the third.
The next two innings would be scoreless, sending Coker into the bottom of the sixth inning with a slight 2-1 advantage.
Bryant McLendon, Katelyn Szupello, and Gallman all singled to start the bottom of the sixth inning as Abbey Younger stepped to the plate with bases loaded and no outs. Younger was able to single, driving in an RBI and advancing everyone up the bases.
Skipper would then take care of the rest, as she tripled on the very next at bat to drive in three more RBIs to allow the Cobras to take a 6-1 lead.
Finally Weatherford collected the last RBI with a sacrifice fly that would send Skipper in to score from third base to secure a 7-1 victory.