HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker’s pitchers Jordan Atkinson (Bishopville, S.C.) and Becky Dillon (West Palm Beach, Fla.) held the North Greenville Crusaders to a combined two runs on eight hits over two games on Thursday afternoon, as the Cobras swept the Crusaders in a non-conference doubleheader. Coker won game one 2-1 and game two 4-1.
The wins improve the Cobras to 5-3 on the season as they prepare to head into conference play this weekend against Belmont Abbey.
GAME ONE
The first game was all about pitching as both teams combined for nine hits with a total of three runs scored in seven innings.
Coker was first to score thanks to an RBI single by Gina Easler (Edgefield, S.C.) that scored Haleigh Rogers (Ward, S.C.) in the first inning.
North Greenville answered with a run of their own in the top of the second inning as Rachel Holeman driving in Courtney Campbell to tie the game at one.
The Cobras were quick to answer in their half of the inning as Sydney Weatherford (Scranton, S.C.) scored on an RBI groundout by Jaclin Poole (Clover, S.C.) to give Coker the 2-1 advantage.
From there out it was all about pitching and defense. Atkinson (1-1) came away with the win as she held the Crusader scoreless over the next five innings. She allowed one run on four this in seven innings of work with three strikeouts.
North Greenville’s Taylor Roof (2-3) was the unfortunate bearer of the loss. She allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
Rogers was the only Cobra with multiple hits, while Easler and Poole each drove in a run.
Holeman drove in the Crusaders lone run, while Sarah Griffith, Courtney Campbell and Emily Campbell each had a hit.
GAME TWO
In game two, Coker jumped on the board early once again scoring a run in the second to take a 1-0 lead. They added two more runs in the fourth and another in the sixth. North Greenville scored their only run of the game in the sixth.
Dillon (3-1) earned the win going all seven innings allowing just one run on four hits, while Laura Hopper (0-1) suffered the loss allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in six innings of work.
Sarah Rountree (Plantation, Fla.) was the leading hitter for the Cobras going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Jennifer Sanborn (Beaufort, S.C.) also had two hits and scored a run.
For the Crusaders, Kansas Wofford, Laura Hopper, Griffith and Roof all had a hit, with Wofford scoring a run.
The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday at Belmont Abbey College in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.