Coker Softball Sweeps UVA Wise in Conference Doubleheader

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- The Coker University softball team swept UVA Wise in its home conference doubleheader on Saturday (Mar. 13). The Cobras won the first game 6-5 in nine innings, and the second 6-0.

Game 1

The Cobras scored two runs in the first inning to break the ice, with Alex Alverson stealing third and scoring on an errant throw before Chloe Pelham drove home Makayla Cuthbertson on a RBI single later in the inning. Jessica McWhorter would continue the scoring in the second, with a single through the right side that scored Madison King to put the Cobras ahead 3-0. UVA Wise would plate three runs in the fourth to tie the game headed to the fifth. Coker would go back ahead 4-3 in the fifth on a RBI groundout by Pelham that scored Alverson, before UVA Wise would rally to tie the game at four. UVA Wise took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth, before pushing the Cobras all the way to their final strike in the home half. Strike three to Mikalya Goodwin squirted away from the UVA Wise catcher, allowing Pelham to score from third to tie the game and Goodwin to reach base. Coker held UVA Wise off the board in the top of the ninth, thanks to a key defensive play from Alverson in right field to cut down a UVA Wise runner at third for the second out of the inning. The Cobras got their chance in the bottom of the ninth, after Mcwhorter's sacrifice bunt moved King to third with just one out. King would later score the winning run on a UVA Wise wild pitch, capping the victory for the Cobras.

Alverson led the Cobras in game one with three hits and two runs scored, while Ava Jay also had two hits in the game. Five other Cobras tallied hits in the victory. King also scored twice in the game, while Cuthbertson and Pelham each scored once. Pelham also drove in two runs, while McWhorter added one RBI. Hannah Fisher (5-2) posted the win for Coker, tossing a complete game scattering four runs (three earned) on eight hits. She also walked four and struck out six.  

Game 2

Coker would strike first in the bottom of the second when a RBI triple from King scored Jay. Coker would add to its lead in the fourth with two long balls in the frame. Kayla Oswell launched a solo shot to left center, before King raced around the bases on a ball down the left field line for an inside-the-park home run that scored Goodwin. Alverson would score in the fifth inning after turning a bunt single into a run on a UVA Wise throwing error, before King would reach on an error to score Bailey Douglas in the sixth to bring the game to its final score.

Douglas and King each had two hits, while King drove in three runs. Four other Cobras had one hit apiece, while Oswell had one RBI and six different Cobras scored in the game. Jordyn Goodman (2-1) earned the win for Coker, tossing a complete-game shutout while scattering two hits and notching one strikeout.

The Cobras will travel to Queens (N.C.) on Wednesday (Mar. 17) for a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2:00 p.m., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.

McDonald's Player of the Game- Madison King