Cobras Allow Seven Combined Hits; Plate 18 Runs in Sweep Over UNCP
The Coker College softball team picked up two wins over UNCP on Thursday.
PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Coker College softball team had all facets of the game clicking on Thursday (Mar. 16), as the Cobras swept UNC Pembroke in a non-conference road doubleheader. The Cobras won game one by a score 8-0, then won game two 10-0 in five innings.
The Navy and Gold wasted no time in game one, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. After reaching on an error to leadoff, Kelsi Bachmann scored thanks to a RBI triple by Cacey Simmons. With runners on the corners, Tayler Barcomb doubled to score Simmons and give Coker a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Riley Morris flew out to right field, scoring Hannah Price and giving Coker a 3-0 advantage. The bats went silent from the second inning until the seventh, as neither side scored and combined for seven three up, three down innings. In the top of the seventh inning, with a runner on second and two outs, Anna Gluhosky doubled to score Morris and give Coker a 4-0 lead. Back-to-back RBI base hits by Bachmann and Simmons put Coker ahead 6-0. Price kept the momentum going, with a RBI single to right field to plate Simmons. Maria Williamson capped off the five-run inning with an RBI single, which scored Courtney Boan. The Braves went down quietly in the bottom of the seventh, giving Coker the 8-0 win in the opener.
Simmons and Barcomb led the way, slashing two hits each. Simmons also finished with two runs scored and two RBI, while Barcomb plated one RBI. Bachmann, Price, Williamson, Morris and Gluhosky all collected one RBI in the win.
Christine Carver (5-1) was nearly perfect in the circle. She allowed one hit and one walk in five innings, while striking out three. Nikki Linthicum earned her first save of the season, she allowed just two hits in two innings.
In game two, neither side found the scoreboard in the opening two innings, however, the Cobra bats ignited for four runs in the top half of the third inning. With two outs and a runner on second, Price singled up the middle, scoring Bachmann to give Coker the 1-0 lead. Barcomb followed that up with an RBI single of her own, lifting Coker to a 2-0 advantage. Williamson belted her eighth home run of the season to give Coker the 4-0 lead after three innings. The Navy and Gold continued its dominance at the plate, as Bachmann and Simmons plated two-RBI base hits and Barcomb hit a two-run home run to leave the Cobras ahead 10-0. The Braves went scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, giving Coker the 10-0 win in game two.
Bachmann, Barcomb and Williamson all finished with multi-hit games. Bachmann finished with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI, Barcomb plated three RBI and scored two runs, while Williamson scored one run and two RBI.
Taylor Forehand (4-1) was dominant in the circle, allowing just three hits in four innings, while striking out three. In relief, Tabitha Allen allowed just one hit in one inning.
The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday (Mar. 18) when they travel to Anderson to begin SAC play. Game times are set for 3 and 5 p.m.