HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College softball team fell to the visiting USC Aiken Pacers on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 18) in a non-conference doubleheader. The Pacers won the opening game 2-1 in eight innings, then proceeded to take game two, 4-0.
The Pacers struck first in the opening game, plating a run in the top of the third inning. After starting off the bottom half of the inning with a walk and stolen base, Ashley Gallman stepped to the plate slashed a RBI single back up the middle to tie the game up at 1-1. The Cobras best chance to take the lead came in the sixth inning when Mindy North and Riley Morris singled to get the inning started. After advancing to third on a Tayler Barcomb fly ball to center field, two runners were in scoring position with one out and Maria Williamson coming to the plate. Williamson lifted a high fly ball to right field, which was caught, and the throw home just beat North for the third out of the inning. After a scoreless seventh inning, a RBI single back up the middle by USCA put them back on top 2-1. The Cobras went down in order in the bottom half of the eighth, giving the Pacers to the 2-1 win in the opener.
Gallman led the way, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. North and Morris picked up the other two hits for the Navy and Gold.
Taylor Forehand (2-1) was hit with the loss, giving up two hits and one run in two winnings of work.
In game two, USC Aiken jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first three innings and held the Coker offense to just four hits. The Pacers would add an insurance run in the fifth, resulting in their 4-0 win in game two.
Gallman went 1-for-4 again, while the trio of North, Barcomb and Carley Bailey all picked up hits as well.
Tabitha Allen (3-1) was hit with the loss in game two, scattering six hit and four runs in five innings in the circle.
The Cobras will have a quick turnaround as they prepared for a pair of weekend doubleheaders (Feb. 20-21). Coker travels to North Greenville University on Saturday (Feb. 20) for a non-conference doubleheader with the Crusaders. Game times are set for 1 and 3 p.m. The Cobras will be back at home on Sunday (Feb. 21) when they face Young Harris College. Games are slated for 1 and 3 p.m. starts.
McDonald's Player of the Game – Ashley Gallman