HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker Cobras opened their spring break week of play that includes 11 games in six days with a split of their Conference Carolinas doubleheader against Queens University of Charlotte on Tuesday afternoon. The Cobras lost a game one pitching duel 2-1, but picked up a 5-4 win in the second game.
GAME ONE
Game one was all about pitching as both hurlers, Coker’s Sydney Greenwalt (Edwardsville, Ill.) and Queens’ Brandy Jester went the distance.
Jester (7-8) got the win allowing just one run on three this with four strikeouts, while Greenwalt (1-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs on six hits with a strikeout.
Queens plated the first run of the game on a Jester RBI in the first, but Coker answered with a RBI triple by Katie McElveen (Hartsville, S.C.) in the second to tie the game at one. The score remained tied through the next four innings. Included in those four innings was a stretch that saw Greenwalt retire 15 consecutive Royals hitters.
Queens finally managed to crack Greenwalt in the top of the seventh when Brooke Spradlin drove in the eventual game winner, giving the Royals the 2-1 win.
McElveen, Bri Jacobs (Bolton, N.C.) and Gina Easler (Edgefield, S.C.) each collected a hit on the day for the Cobras, while Jester, Spradlin each drove in a run for the Royals.
GAME TWO
The second game saw much more offense, as Coker scored at least a run in innings three through six to take home the 5-4. The Cobras led 5-1 entering the seventh inning, but Queens rallied to make it a 5-4 game before Jordan Atkinson (Bishopville, S.C.) came into pitch the final two outs and stop the Royal’s attack.
Beck Dillon (West Palm Beach, Fla.) (4-3) got the win going 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with six strikeouts, while Jester (7-9) took the loss. She went six innings allowing five runs on six hits.
Stacy Burr (Darlington, S.C.) was the Cobras offensive leader with a pair of doubles and three RBIs, while Casey Plummer (Hartsville, S.C.) was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Jennifer Sanborn (Beaufort, S.C.) also had two hits.
For the Royals, Emily Poulton was 2-for-2 with a run scored and Kitlyn Cheek drove in two runs, while Megan Lathbury and Alisha Waldrop each drove in a single run.
Coker will be back in action again tomorrow. This time they will be on the road as they travel to Pfeiffer University for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.