Cobras Take Two Of Three From Nationally Ranked Eagles

HARTSVILLE, SC. - Coker saw Hunter Poole have back to back walk offs to take games one and two of the series with Carson-Newman to win the series. The Cobras later dropped game three to end the weekend series. 

BY THE NUMBERS
Scores: G1 Coker 7, CNU 6 | G2 Coker 3, CNU 2 | G3 CNU 5, Coker 1
Records: Coker 22-16 (11-10) | CNU 27-11 (16-5)
Location: Hartsville, SC. | Tom J. New Field

HOW IT HAPPENED:

G1:

Carson-Newman struck first Friday night. The Eagles did all of their damage with two outs, plating 5 runs in the top of the first inning. The Cobras quickly got back one of those runs after two singles to start the inning, Rocco Wojcik laced a single into left field to plate Coker's first run of the night. 

The Cobras tacked on two more in the second inning when Gavin Edens hit a sacrifice fly to left field, followed by a single from Gabriel Santiago to cut the lead down to 5-3. 

After the eagles added a run in the top of the third, Luke Alford brought the game within one. The sophomore hit a single through the right side to plate two, and Coker trailed 6-5. 

Britton Adams came on in relief for the Cobras and worked four quick innings without allowing a run to keep the game at a stalemate. In the bottom of the seventh, Coker threatened with runners on second and third, but it was the Eagles rolling a ground ball to get out of the inning. 

In the eighth, Carson-Newman threatened, loading the bases on Adams. With one strike and two outs, a ball was put in play to the left of Adams in which he bounced off the mound and threw the runner out by a step to end the top half of the inning in dramatic fashion, without allowing a run. 

The ninth inning is when Coker finally prevailed. After getting two runners on, Kyler Odom hit a pinch hit single to tie the game at 6. Just one batter later, senior Hunter Poole delivered the biggest hit of the night. He hit a single to plate the winning run in walk off fashion. 

G2:
Aaron Diaz started for Coker in game two, and was dominant through the first four innings. He saw just 14 batters throughout the first four frames, allowing just two hits. 

In the bottom of the fourth the tie was finally broken. With two outs, Jaylen Mack blasted his third long ball of the year to give Coker a 1-0 lead. The Eagles then quickly responded in the top of the 5th, plating one on a sacrifice fly to even things up once more at 1. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Coker retook the lead. After loading the bases, Luke Peterson grounded into a double play, but Kyler Odom scored to give Coker a 2-1 lead. 

The Cobras found themselves in trouble in the top of the 7th when the Eagles had runners on first and second. Cooper Thomas was then called on by the Cobras to get out of the jam. He produced a strikeout swinging on a breaking ball in the dirt to escape the jam, keeping Coker in the lead at 2-1.

In the ninth Carson-Newman tied the game witha two out single, forcing the Cobras to earn another walk off in as many days. For the second straight day it was Hunter Poole, this time with a bases loaded walk off walk to propel the Cobras to a 3-2 win, clinching the series. 

G3:
Carson-Newman responded quickly in game three, plating one run in the top of the first. The Eagles then worked a quick first inning thanks to their freshman star Kolton Casson. Casson came into the game 9-0 in his freshman campaign. 

In the second, Coker threatened, having runners on third and second, but it was the Eagles getting out of the jam to hold onto their 1-0 lead. After allowing the lone run in the first inning, Cody Chapman settled in and worked two quick innings to keep the game knotted at 1-0 through two and a half. 

The bottom of the third saw the Cobras even things up. Ick Cirino led the inning off with a walk, and after two outs, Kyler Odom delivered a single to left field to tie the game at 1. 

Casson then settled in the rest of the way, and was able to keep Coker from scoring anymore runs over the course of the final four innings to take game three 5-1.

NOTABLES:
Hunter Poole was responsible for the walk off in the first two games of the series. 
Jaylen Mack hit his team best 3rd home run of the season in the second game. 

UP NEXT:
Coker returns to action Tuesday when they travel to Barton for a non-conference matchup.