HARROGATE, TENN. – The Coker College softball team went 1-1 on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 26) in a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader against the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters. In game one, the Cobras fell 4-3 in eight innings. In game two, the Navy and Gold picked up a 6-5 win in eight innings, to split the doubleheader.
In game one, Lincoln Memorial plated runs in the first, third and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth inning. However, the Cobras mounted their comeback in the top of the sixth inning. Katelyn Chambers got things started after reaching on an error and advancing to second on a ground out. Tayler Barcomb stepped to the plate and knocked a single back up the middle, scoring Chambers and getting Coker on the board. After stealing second, Barcomb was in scoring position with Maria Williamson stepping to the plate. Williamson belted her third home run in four games to tie things up at 3-3. After a scoreless bottom of the sixth and entire seventh inning, the game would head to extra innings. The Cobras would go quiet in the top of the eighth; with a sac fly by the Railsplitters in the bottom of the eighth giving them the 4-3 win in the opener.
Williamson and Barcomb went 1-for-3 to lead the way, Williamson plating two RBIs and Barcomb plating one.
Augusta Jackson was tagged with the loss in game one. She scattered one earned run on two hits in three and two-thirds innings.
In game two, it would be the Cobras striking first; plating runs in the first and second innings. Mindy North led the game off with a double down the left field line to put herself in scoring position. After advancing to third on a sac bunt, Ashley Gallman slashed a single into right field to give Coker the 1-0 lead. In the top of the second, Makayla Shore was in scoring position after a single and advancing on a ground out with Courtney Boan coming to the plate. Boan stepped up and ripped a single down the right field line, plating Shore and extending the Coker lead to 2-0. The Railsplitters fought their way back in to the game, scoring a run in the bottom of the second and eventually taking a 3-2 lead thanks to a two-run fifth inning. The Cobras would plate the tying run in the top of the sixth inning after Gallman scored on a fly out to the right fielder. After a scoreless seventh inning, the game would head extras, once again tied at 3-3. In the top of the eighth inning, Boan advanced to third after sac bunt by North. After a walk by Chambers, Gallman stepped to the plate and lifted a fly ball to right field, scoring Boan from third on the sac fly. With two outs, Barcomb reached on scoring error, leaving two on with Williamson coming to the plate. She laced a double into the left field scoring both runners and giving Coker the 6-3 lead. LMU would not go down quietly, leading off the eighth with a two-run home run, but that was as far as the comeback would go, as the Cobras held on for the 6-5 win in eight innings.
Gallman and Williamson led the way with two RBIs each, Gallman going 2-for-3, while Williamson went 1-for-4. Boan finished game two 1-for-3 with an RBI, while North, Shore and Hannah Price all picked up hits in the win.
Jackson (5-3) picked up the win in game two. She scattered one earned run on one hit in three innings.
The Cobras will be back in action on Wednesday (Mar. 30) to take on Catawba in games one and two of a six-game homestand. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Saleeby-Stokes Softball Field.