Cobras Split Doubleheader, Take Weekend Series

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University baseball team split their South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Tusculum University on Saturday (Mar. 26). The Cobras won game one by a 13-9 score before the Pioneers took game two by a 7-2 margin.

In game one, Coker got off to a hot start behind the bat of Cory Listing. Reilly Hall led off the inning with a double, then scored on Listing's second long ball of the season to make the score 2-0. Tusculum tied the game in the top half of the second inning with two runs of their own, but Coker responded with an RBI single from Reilly Hall to push the Cobras back in front 3-2. 

Coker would once again use two out magic to post a large number on the board in the bottom of the third inning. The Cobras loaded the bases without registering a hit, setting the table for Tripp Kimmel. Kimmel would clear the bases with one swing of the bat, sending a liner into the left center field gap to plate three runs. The Cobras were not done, as Andrew Scudder walked and Reilly Hall tripled to bring home Kimmel and Scudder. Phill Griffor followed up with a single to drive in Hall. Cory Listing drew a walk and Kody Hanna put the finishing touches on the inning with a two RBI double to bring home Griffor and Listing to make the score 11-3.

Kimmel added onto his big afternoon in the fourth inning by driving in Eli Hopkins to make it 12-3. The Cobras would tack on one more run in the fifth inning and hold off the Pioneers to take the game 13-9. Reilly Hall led the squad with four hits and three RBI. Kimmel recorded two hits and four RBI of his own. Listing and Hanna each added two RBI to the Cobra effort and Griffor drove in one himself. Jonathan Ford earned his third win of the season, working 1 ⅔ innings in relief and only allowing one hit. Ford also struck out three Pioneer batters.

In game two, Tusculum scored one run in the top of the first but the Cobras answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Reilly Hall once again led off the inning with an extra base hit, this time a double. Hall then came around to score on a Kody Hanna RBI single. Hanna would come around to score on Eli Hopkins' RBI single to make it 2-1 Coker. The Pioneers refused to be swept in the three game series, as they posted three runs in the second and third innings to make the score 7-2. Tusculum hung onto the lead and took the decision by the same margin. The offensive effort was spread throughout the Coker lineup, as eight out of nine starters recorded a hit in game two of the doubleheader. Zack Hinson, Tanner Wofford, and Matt Poole combined for 4 ⅔ innings of scoreless work out of the bullpen.

The Cobras will return to action on Wednesday (Mar. 30) when they make the trip up I-95 to take on the Braves of UNC Pembroke. First pitch is scheduled for 6pm, with live video and statistics available at www.cokercobras.com. 

McDonald's Player of the Game: Reilly Hall