Cobras Take Down Braves in Midweek Showdown

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University baseball team picked up a big non-conference win over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday (Feb. 16) by a 10-9 margin.

The Cobras struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Brady Jeffcoat tripled down the right field line to drive in two runs. Jeffcoat would then come around to score on Kody Hanna's RBI single to left to give the Cobras a 3-0 lead after one. Pembroke would come back to take a 4-3 lead, but Bryan Castillo's RBI single tied things up at 4-4 in the bottom of the third. 

The Braves would retake the lead at 7-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, but the Cobras would strike back once more to take the lead for good. Back-to-back bases loaded walks drawn by Jacob Yarberry and Nick Leonard evened the score at 7-7, before Phill Griffor delivered a bases clearing single to give Coker the 10-7 lead. UNC Pembroke would scratch two runs across in the bottom of the ninth, but the Cobras held on for the 10-9 win. 

Coker was led offensively by Griffor, who collected four hits and drove in four runs in the win. Freshman Jeffcoat had two knocked in and Castillo, Yarberry, Leonard, and Hanna had one RBI each. Senior Tanner Wofford struck out the only man he faced, collecting his first win of the season. Fellow senior, closer Triston Fowler came on in the eighth and recorded six outs for his second consecutive save. 

The Cobras will be back in action this Friday (Feb. 18) when they travel up I-95 for a non-conference showdown with the University of Mount Olive Trojans. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., with live video and statistics available at www.cokercobras.com.