HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College softball team picked up a pair of vital South Atlantic Conference wins on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 16) over the visiting Brevard College Tornados. The Cobras won game one by a score of 4-1, then turned around to take game two 8-4. 

In the opener, the Navy and Gold struck early, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. After back-to-back singles and stolen bases by Mindy North and Ashley Gallman, Maria Williamson stepped to the plate with no outs and runners on second and third. Williamson laced a double down the third base line, scoring both runs and putting Coker ahead 2-0. After a pair of groundouts, Williamson stood on third with two outs and Hannah Price coming to the dish. Price slashed a single back up the middle, scoring Williamson and extending the Coker lead to 3-0. The Tornados plated a run of the their own in the third inning to cut the lead to 3-1, however Coker would tack on an insurance run in the sixth inning, thanks to an RBI ground out by Price, which scored Riley Morris and put Coker out in front 4-1. Brevard was held scoreless in the top half of the seventh inning, giving the Cobras a 4-1 win in game one.

Price and Gallman both went 2-for-3, with Price notching two RBIs and Gallman scoring one run. North, Morris, Tayler Barcomb and Williamson all went 1-for-3, with Williamson plating the other two RBIs for Coker.

Augusta Jackson picked up the win on the mound. She scattered one run on seven hits in a complete game effort.

In game two, it was Coker once again coming out of the gates hot, scoring run in the first inning. After a single by Gallman, Morris reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring Gallman and giving Coker an early 1-0 lead. After Brevard responded with a run of its own in the top of the second, an RBI single by Gallman and a RBI fielder's choice by Williamson put Coker back in front 3-1. After a scoreless third and top half of the fourth inning, the Navy and Gold plated two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to a two-run home run by Williamson. After a three-run inning by Brevard in the top of the fifth, Coker plated three run in the bottom of the sixth to secure the eventual 8-4 win.

Gallman went a perfect 4-for-4 in game two, plating two RBIs and scoring three runs. Price had another 2-for-3 outing, scoring one run. Williamson went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while North, Allyson High and Courtney Boan all collected one hit as well.

Taylor Forehand notched the win in the circle, scattering three earned runs on six hits in a complete game effort.

The Cobras will be back in action on Tuesday (Apr. 19) when they travel to Newberry for a SAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Hannah Price