Coker Falls In Season Opener Against Belmont Abbey

HARTSVILLE, SC. - Belmont Abbey jumped out to an early 7-0 lead Friday afternoon, and ultimately halted Coker's comeback to take game one of the series 11 to 7. The Cobras out hit the Crusaders, but timely hits helped prevail Belmont Abbey in the season opener.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Final: Belmont Abbey 11 | Coker 7

Records: Coker 0-1 | Belmont Abbey 1-0

Location: Hartsville, Sc. | Tom J. New Field

TOP PERFORMERS:

Ick Cirino - 2-2, 3bb, 2r

Jaylen Mack - 2-4, 1 RBI, 1bb

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Cody Chapman got the ball for the Cobras to start the season, and got off to the perfect start. The senior struck out the side in the top half of the first inning to start the 2025 campaign. Chapman worked ahead in every count during the first inning, striking out all three batters. 

In the bottom half of the first, Ick Cirino roped the first pitch he saw up the middle to scratch the first base runner of the day. The Cobras stalled later in the inning, as Belmont Abbey tracked down a ball in the gap to shut down Coker's threat in the bottom half. 

Belmont Abbey tallied the first runs on the season in the second inning. After a walk early in the inning, Justin Herrera roped a home run into left center field to give Belmont Abbey an early 2-0 lead. The Crusaders then worked a quick bottom half, and exploded in the top of the third for five runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Belmont Abbey scratched their five runs in the top half on three hits, and four walks.

After a few scoreless innings, Belmont Abbey added two more in the top half of the 6th. In the bottom half, Cirino ripped his second single of the night into left field, and Cameron Ferrell singled two batters later to put Coker on the board. 

In the seventh, Landon Reeves worked a 1-2-3 inning to get the Cobras back to the plate. In the bottom of the seventh, Coker came to life. The Cobras put pressure on the Crusaders pitching staff, working multiple walks early in the inning to set the table. Gabriel Santiago legged out an infield single to score the first run of the inning for Coker, and two batters later Hunter Poole hit a single to cut into the lead. The Cobras then scored three straight runs on walks, and a wild pitch, and by the innings end Coker trailed 9 to 6. 

After another quick inning for Reeves, Coker brought the game to two with another Poole single up the middle. After leaving a few runners on base, Coker headed to the eighth trailing by two. 

The Crusaders responded in the ninth. They added two runs in the ninth on one hit, and took a demanding 11 to 7 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Coker fought in the bottom half, but ultimately fell in game one of the 2025 season 11 to 7. 

UP NEXT:
Coker travels to Belmont Abbey on Saturday to finish the three game series. The double header is set for 12 and 3. 

#GoCobras