WINGATE, N.C.- The Coker College softball team went north to challenge South Atlantic Conference foe Wingate University on Thursday, March 22. The Cobras split the series, losing game one 7-1 and defeating the Bulldogs 8-2 in game two.
The win over Wingate handed Travis McCall his 100th victory at the helm of the Cobras. McCall is now 100-86-1 in his fourth year as Coker's head coach.
Game One
The lone run for the Navy and Gold came in the top of the sixth off of an Allyson High sacrifice fly to the right fielder, scoring Madison King. King was the pinch runner for Hannah Price. Price singled up the middle to lead off the inning and reached second on a Hannah Goodman single up the middle.
Taylor Forehand struck out six batters in her four innings of work.
Game Two
After falling behind 1-0 early in the game, the Cobras used the third inning to eventually seal the game.
Makayla Shore singled to right field to open up the five-run third inning. Brianna Strickland followed it up with a single of her own. Cacey Simmons walked to load the bases for Katelyn Chambers. Her single down the left field line moved each runner up a bag, with Shore claiming home plate. Price stepped in for a single to the shortstop, again moving the runners up a base Strickland scored on the RBI and Simmons followed suit on a throwing error by the shortstop. Maria Williamson rached on a fielding error by the shortstop to fill the bases once more. Diane Servideo knocked a two RBI double into right center field, bringing Price and Chambers home.
Coker struck again in the fourth after a Strickland double led to Simmons's fourth home run of the year. This brought the score to 7-1.
A run was added in the top of the seventh for good measure to bookend the win over the Bulldogs. Price opened the inning earning a walk, with Courtney Boan coming in to pinch run. Williamson singled to right field, putting Boan on second. A wild pitch put them both in scoring position. When Gluhosky reached on a throwing error by the third basemen, Boan returned to the dugout after recording Coker's eighth run in the victory.
The lone runs in the second game for Wingate came on two solo home runs in the first and fifth inning.
Christine Carver pitched effectively in her 12th win of the season, giving up just two runs on three hits, one walk, with one strikeout.
For their next games, on Saturday (Mar. 24), the Navy and Gold will host fellow SAC member, the Tusculum College Pioneers. The games will serve as a Fangs United and Pink Game for the Coker softball team. First pitch of the day is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.