HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker Cobras will host the Crusaders of North Greenville University in a Conference Carolinas three-game baseball series on Friday (Mar. 29) and Saturday (Mar. 30). Live stats for all three games will be available at www.cokercobras.com.
Coker (19-11, 8-7 Conf. Carolinas) is coming off a 13-4 win over Benedict College on Wednesday (Mar. 27). Shea Bell went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Andrew Goot (4-0) earned the win, scattering two hits in two innings of work on the mound.
Fico Kondla continues to a force to be reckoned with at the plate for the Cobras. The junior first baseman is batting .417 with 11 doubles, a home run and 22 RBIs. Also posting strong numbers at the plate is senior second baseman Keith Wolf. He has a .347 average three doubles and 14 stolen bases.
On the mound, Tyler Witzel (5-3), Dan Meyer (2-3) and Alex Hernandez (3-2) are the probable starters for the weekend. Witzel has a 4.10 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 41.2 innings, while Meyer has a 3.86 ERA with 39 punch-outs in 44.1 innings. Hernandez has a team leading 3.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 30 innings on the mound. Also making his presence known on the mound is junior closer Zach Loraine. He leads the nation in saves with nine, has a 1.95 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 32.1 innings of work.
Currently, the Cobras are in third place in the league standings behind Mount Olive (12-3) and Belmont Abbey and Pfeiffer, who are tied for second at 7-6. North Greenville is tied for the eighth spot with Barton at 4-8.
On the other side of the field, North Greenville (11-19, 4-8 conf. Carolinas) enters the game having lost to Anderson, 10-1, in their most recent outing. Sophomore infielder Allen Staton is the leading hitter for the Crusaders. He is batting .395 with 16 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Probable starters for the weekend are Ryan Woodring (2-2), Andrew Lawrence (1-4) and this week's Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the week, Ian Haley (1-2). Haley tossed a complete shutout, scattering seven hits while striking out four in NGU's win over Pfeiffer last week.
First pitch for game one on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m., while Saturday's double-header will begin at 12 p.m.