HARTSVILLE, S.C.- The Coker College softball team (22-10, 3-3) hosted the Tusculum College Pioneers in a South Atlantic Conference series on Saturday, March 24. The Cobras took charge early and swept the visitors 3-2 and 5-2.
Game One
Maria Williamson started off the second inning with a walk. Hannah Goodman stepped into the box, and on the first pitch, crushed a two-run home run down the left field line to give Coker a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Tusculum retaliated with two unearned runs of their own.
The winning run came in the bottom of the fifth for the Cobras. Brianna Strickland reached on an error by the shortstop as did the next batter, Hannah Price. On the play, Strickland was able to make it to third. Williamson stepped in for a walk. Ball four was a wild pitch, allowing Strickland to break for the plate and score the third run.
The Navy and Gold managed only one hit in the win, Goodman's two-run homer.
Christine Carver (13-5, 1.81 ERA) earned her 13th win of the season in six innings pitched. She gave up four hits and struck out four. Taylor Forehand entered in relief for the seventh, claiming the save. In the inning, Forehand gave up one hit and struck out one.
Game Two
The Cobras came out swinging in the game two win.
The scoring action started in the bottom of the first. Strickland was hit by a pitcher, advancing to second on a Price single. Williamson hit a single down the left field line, advancing to second on the throw, moving Price to third, and scoring Strickland from second. Goodman came up to bat, and, once again, on the first pitch, hit a no-doubter over the left field wall for her second home run of the day and on the season. The three-run shot gave Coker a momentary 4-0 lead. Anna Gluhosky followed up the homer with a triple down the left field line. On a Makayla Shore ground out to third, Gluhosky was able to score, drawing the score to 5-0.
Tusculum had two cross home in the top of the fifth to make the final score 5-2 in the Navy and Gold favor.
Taylor Forehand (3-2, 2.65) made her second appearance of the day for the complete game win. In the game, she gave up two earned runs, nine hits, one walk, and struck out four Pioneers.
Coker goes on a two series road trip, starting with SAC opponent No. 11 Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday, March 28. First pitch of game one against the Bears is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
McDonald's Player of the Game- Hannah Goodman
