Extra-Inning Heroics by Stiles Pushes Coker Past Tornado

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – A three-run homerun by Corrine Stiles in the top of the eighth inning lifted the Coker College softball team past the King University Tornado 6-5 on day two of the Coker Spring Softball Tournament.

After a scoreless first and second inning, Coker struck in the top of the third when a sacrifice fly by Riley Morris scored Mindy North to put them ahead 1-0. King responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Coker bats stayed hot with two more runs in the top of the fourth, thanks to a two-RBI single by Ashley Gallman. The Navy and Gold held the 3-2 lead until the bottom of the seventh inning when King belted a two-out homerun to keep its hopes alive. After placing a runner on second and a drawn walk by Makayla Shore, Stiles stepped to the plate and deposited a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall to put the Cobras ahead 6-3. The Tornado would not go down quietly, scoring two in the bottom half of the eighth, however Coker held on for the 6-5 victory.

Stiles finished the afternoon going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Gallman went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Morris had a multi-hit game as well, while North and Maria Williamson rounded out the Coker offense, recording a hit apiece.

Augusta Jackson (3-1) picked up her third win of the season, with Tabitha Allen earning the save. Jackson scattered five hits and two earned runs in four innings of work. Allen was perfect in her one-inning appearance.

The Cobras will be back in action on Sunday (Feb. 28) for the final day of the Coker Spring Softball Tournament. Coker will take on Lees-McRae College at 1:30 p.m. on field 6 at Byerly Park.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Corrine Stiles