DAHLONEGA, Ga.- The Cobra softball team traveled to the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic, a weekend series put on by the University of North Georgia. Coker competed against the Flagler Saints and the hosting No. 2 Nighthawks on Saturday (March 3). The Navy and Gold shutout Flagler 5-0 and fell to North Georgia.
Game One
The Saints came into the contest with a 10-7 record compared to Coker's 14-2 record.
Maria Williams hit a solo shot to center field to give the Cobras a 1-0 advantage over Flagler to lead off the fourth inning.
The top of the fifth opened the scoring gates for Coker. Cacey Simmons reached on a fielder's choice to first base, advancing to second on a throwing error by the first baseman, earning a RBI. She sent Kelsi Bachmann to third (singled to the pitcher and went to second on defensive indifference) and scored Mindy North (pinch ran for Hannah Goodman who singled up the middle) after she stole second. Williamson followed that up with her second RBI on the day, singling to the shortstop. This sent Bachmann home and Simmons to third. For the third run in the inning, a wild pitch gave the speedy Simmons enough time to scramble to the plate.
In the next inning, the lead extended once again. The bases were full of Cobras due to three straight walks from two Saint pitchers. Goodman reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop. Lilli Otten moved over to second and Anna Gluhosky was thrown out at home, but the Flagler catcher committed a throwing error, allowing Madison King to score, who pinch ran for Allyson High.
The Saints tried to get it back within reach with two-outs, bases loaded, in the bottom of the seventh, but Christine Carver got the batter to swing and struck her out to bring the final score to 5-0.
Carver (8-1, 1.19 ERA) earned her fourth shutout and finished her seventh complete game with the win. She gave up three hits, walked four, and struckout four versus the Saints.
Game Two
The NFCA Coaches and Division II No. 2 ranked North Georgia entered the game against the Cobras with an impressive 21-0 record.
The Nighthawks got on the board efficiently with two runs scoring in the first inning, two in the second, seven in the third, and three in the fifth.
The Cobras' lone run came in the bottom of the fourth on a Hannah Price single to left field, scoring Simmons.
The Navy and Gold will be back in action Sunday (March 4) for Day Two of the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic. They will once again face Flagler at 10:00 a.m. and North Georgia at 2:00 p.m.