HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker softball is hosting a two-day Cobra Invitational, featuring Alderson Broaddus and Mount Olive. The Cobras faced the Battlers in the first game of the day and Mount Olive in the third slot. The Navy and Gold won game one 9-5 and game two 3-1.
Game One
Maria Williamson started off the day strong with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Hannah Price tacked on a two RBI double to bring the lead to 3-0. Alderson Broaddus retaliated with a RBI single to center field in the top half of the second inning. In the bottom half, Courtney Boan reach first base on an error by the second baseman, scoring Anna Gluhosky. Cacey Simmons knocked in Boan for a RBI in both the second and fourth innings. The top of the fifth inning brought in three runs for the Battlers through a sacrifice fly and a two-run single, making the score 6-4. Lilli Otten singled in Katelyn Chambers for a RBI in the fifth. Williamson dealt the dagger against Alderson Broaddus. She hit yet another home run, a two-run blast to stretch the lead to 9-4 in the Cobras favor. In the top of the seventh, the Battlers had the bases loaded but managed to only score one run on a single to center field. Nikki Linthicum picked up the win with five innings pitched, four hits, three earned runs, three walks and seven strikeouts. Brianna Strickland finished the next two innings, giving up only two hits, one earned run, and two walks.
Game Two
In the game against Mount Olive, the Cobras were designated as the away team. Coker started the scoring in the top half of the third inning on a Simmons sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Gluhosky home. The Trojans evened the affair on a unearned run in the bottom half. In the fifth and sixth inning, the Navy and Gold scored two runs to make the final score 3-1. Price drove a single to center field, letting Morgan Richardson touch home plate. Price got another RBI when she was walked with the bases loaded, forcing Makayla Shore home. Christine Carver came out with the seven inning win with five strikeouts, one walk, five hits, and no earned runs.
The Navy and Gold do it up again Sunday (Feb. 18), playing Alderson Broaddus at noon and Mount Olive at 2:15 p.m on day two of the Cobra Invitational.
Game one is set for a 10:00 a.m. start, with the gates of Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field opening at 9:00 a.m. Game two will begin at approximately 12:00 p.m., with game three following around 2:15 p.m.
Tickets for the games are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students. Live stats and video can be found at www.cokercobras.com.