Coker to Combat Pioneers on Pink and Fangs United Day

HARTSVILLE, S.C.-  The Coker College softball team (20-10) will return to the friendly confines of Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field for the first time in over a month on Saturday, Mar. 24 as they host conference foe, the Pioneers of Tusculum College. The games will serve as a Pink Game to support breast cancer awareness and as the team's Fangs United day.

Maria Williamson has collected the most hits on the season for the Cobras with 45, followed by Cacey Simmons with 32. They also lead the RBI race with 32 and 28, respectively. Hannah Price has five doubles thus far and Simmons trails with four. Simmons (2) and Anna Gluhosky (1) account for the three triples. Williamson (7), Simmons (4), Price (2), Gluhosky (1), and Makayla Shore (1) have struck for Coker's 15 home runs.

The pitching staff of Taylor Forehand, Christine Carver, Brianna Strickland, and Nikki Linthicum combine their efforts for 144 strikeouts, 84 earned runs, 174 hits, and 72 walks in 189.1 innings pitched. Carver heads it up with 85 strikeouts, 12 wins, and a 1.92 ERA.

As of Mar. 21, Williamson ranks eighth nationally in hits, good for the top spot in the conference. She claims second in the SAC in home runs, RBI, and total bases. Williamson is fourth in conference in batting average and home runs per game.

Simmons is first in the SAC in sacrifice flies, third in triples, and fifth in RBI. Price is third in sacrifice flies.

Carver ranks second in the conference in victories, while third in hits allowed per seven innings, shutouts, strikeouts, and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The Navy and Gold places third in the SAC in stolen bases per game and in win-loss percentage.

The Pioneers (17-12, 2-2 SAC) come into play with a 3.10 ERA and a .320 batting average. They have given up 90 runs, 193 hits, 63 walks, and nine home runs, while striking out 108 times through 29 games.

Game one is set for a 1:00 p.m. start, with the gates of Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field opening at 12:00 p.m. Game two will begin at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Tickets for the games are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students. Live stats can be found at www.cokercobras.com.