HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College softball team dropped a pair of South Atlantic Conference matchups to the visiting Tusculum College Pioneers on Sunday (Apr. 3) afternoon. The Cobras fell in game one, 5-3, then dropped game two 5-4 in nine innings.

In the opening game, Tusculum struck first with a two-run first inning. Tayler Barcomb got Coker on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After the Pioneers plated another run in the fourth, a Maria Williamson two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning tied the game up 3-3. Tusculum responded with a two-run blast of its own to regain the 5-3 lead and take the eventual two-run win.

Barcomb and Williamson led the way, with all three of the Coker RBIs. Barcomb finished the opener 2-for-3, with a home run and a RBI, while Williamson went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run. Riley Morris, Mindy North and Allyson High picked up a hit apiece.

Taylor Forehand was hit with the loss. She gave up two runs on two hits in two innings of work.

In game two, the Cobras struck first, plating runs in the first and second inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers belted another two-run blast, this time to tie the game up at 2-2. After an Ashley Gallman single to open the third inning, Williamson doubled down the left field line, scoring Gallman and giving Coker the 3-2 lead. Tusculum tied the game up in the sixth, thanks to an RBI single to right field. The score remained tied until the top of the ninth inning. Two RBI singles by the Pioneers put them ahead 5-3. Gallman struck again in the bottom half of the ninth inning, slashing a single up the middle, scoring Courtney Boan. That would be as far as the Coker comeback would go, as Tusculum took home the game two win, 5-4.

Morris, Gallman and Boan all had two-hit games. Morris and Gallman plating RBIs, while Boan had two runs scored. Williamson and High picked up one hit each as well.

Forehand was tagged with the loss. She gave up one earned run on three hits in two innings.

The Cobras will be back in action on Tuesday (Apr. 5) when they travel to Wingate for a SAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Maria Williamson