Coker Set for Final Home Stand of the Season

Coker Set for Final Home Stand of the Season

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker Cobras will host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in a three-game Conference Carolinas series on Friday (Apr. 12) and Saturday (Apr. 13). The three-game set marks the final home games for the Cobras this season. Live coverage of the games will be available online at www.cokercobras.com.

Coker (25-11, 11-7 Conf. Carolinas) comes into the weekend riding a seven game wining streak that includes an 8-4 win over No. 11 UNC Pembroke on Apr. 3. Most recently, the Cobras defeated Newberry (10-5) and St. Augustine's (7-6). 

First baseman Fico Kondla continues to swing the hot stick at the plate for the Cobras. The junior is batting .417 with 12 doubles, two home runs, 30 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. On the mound, seniors Tyler Witzel and Dan Meyer lead the way, and will likely get the call for two of the games this weekend. Freshman Alex Hernandez is the third probable starter of the weekend. Witzel (7-3) and Meyer  (4-3) both hold 3.86 ERAs, and Witzel has 31 strikeouts in 51.1 innings, while Meyer has 50 Ks in 58.1 innings. Hernandez (3-2) has a 3.32 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.

Belmont Abbey (25-10-1, 9-7 Conf. Carolinas) is ranked No. 21 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll. Anthony Dimino leads the Crusaders at the plate, and Nate Cudney leads the pitching staff on the mound. Dimino is batting .377 with eight doubles, two triples, four home runs and 30 RBIs. Cudney has posted a 2.18 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 66 innings of work.

First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday's doubleheader will begin at noon. Prior to the start of Saturday's games, the Cobras will honor their 13 seniors in a special Senior Day ceremony.